Cover Reveal: The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly by Rebecca Ansari

I'm incredibly excited to share the cover reveal for Rebecca Ansari's debut novel, a story for middle grade readers about a boy named Charlie, the little brother only he remembers, and his friend, Ana, who trust Charlie over memory. If you're at all like me, you'll be captivated by the description of The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly and intrigued by the cover! Don't forget to enter to win a signed advanced reader copy, too.

Rebecca Ansari lives in a very loud house in Minneapolis with her husband, their four boys, and a somewhat insane golden retriever. After twelve years as an ER doctor, she shelved her scrubs to write magical and mysterious worlds for middle grade readers. She is drawn to any story that evokes, “Please, mom! Just one more chapter!” and she strives to craft the same. She was the winner of the Minnesota SCBWI Mentorship for 2015. When she isn’t writing, you can find her joyously mountain biking, begrudgingly running, or escaping “up north” with family, friends and a stack of good books. Her novel, The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly is due out from Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins in March 2019.
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About the Book

Charlie O’Reilly is an only child. Which is why it makes everyone uncomfortable when he talks about his brother.

 Liam. His little brother, who, up until a year ago, slept in the bunk above Charlie, took pride in being as annoying as possible, and was the only person who could make Charlie laugh until it hurt. Then came the morning when Liam disappeared forever. No one even remembers him—not Charlie’s mother, who has been battling depression; and not Charlie’s father, who is often gone on business trips. The only person who believes Charlie is his best friend, Ana; even if she has no memory of Liam, she is as determined as Charlie is to solve the mystery of his missing brother.

 The search seems hopeless . . . until Charlie finds a mysterious note, unmistakably written in Liam’s handwriting. And if he and Ana are going to figure out what happened to Liam, they have no choice but to follow its instructions—even if doing so could mean that they, too, might disappear, unremembered, forever.

 Rebecca K. S. Ansari’s debut is a stunning contemporary fantasy about love, loss, and the power to forgive that we all have inside us—even if we forget that it’s there.

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Reveal 

 And now for the official cover reveal of The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly!

DRUMROLL PLEASE!

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Publisher: Walden Pond Press

 Release Date: 03/2019

I'm so curious to read this book and piece together the identities of the kids in the foreground... and those silhouettes in the windows! Share your thoughts in the comments and be sure to add The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly to your Goodreads and upcoming reads list!

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Giveaway

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An Interview with Elana K. Arnold, author of Bat and the Waiting Game

Like many readers, I fell in love with a boy named Bat and his furry friend Thor in Elana K. Arnold's middle grade novel A Boy Called Bat. Today, Elana visits The Hiding Spot to talk about her return to Bat and Thor's story in Bat and the Waiting Game!

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What was the inspiration for this second book about Bat and his pet baby skunk, Thor, in which Bat struggles with a change to his routine and separation from Thor? 

I was thrilled to continue Bat and Thor’s story. I love Bat so, so much. Like Bat, I’m very much a fan of routine and staying home with my animal friends. And, like Bat, I’m a sibling. I remember the challenges of having to suppress my preferences and needs because of the preferences and needs of my family members, and I wanted to poke at these places in myself and experience how Bat would feel and react when he’s challenged to move further outside his comfort zone. And, as a fan of Charles Santoso’s work, it’s been amazing to see more illustrations of Bat and his world. 

Are more stories about Bat and Thor planned?  

Yes! I am thrilled to share that I’ve just handed in edits for the third BAT book, Bat and the End of Everything. It will be out in March of 2019. 

In addition to your Bat books for young readers, you have written multiple young adult books. Does your writing process change depending on the audience for which you are writing? 

When I am working on a first draft of any project, I don’t think about audience at all. I tell myself, “It’s none of my business who reads my book.” My business is to tell the character’s authentic story the best way I know how. So, in that regard, my process is identical whether I’m writing a picture book, a novel for younger readers like my BAT books, or a young adult novel. But I do see my time with Bat as a respite from the more fraught work I do in my young adult novels. These past few years, I’ve been working on Bat’s story while concurrently writing some of my most personally challenging young adult titles, and I like to think of each as a palate cleanser for the other; the challenges the BAT books present are different from the challenges of my young adult work, and working on them side by side has allowed me to return with fresh eyes over and over again. 

Recommend one of your favorite new or old titles for fans of your Bat books! 

I love Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books. They focus intently on the very real, everyday problems of childhood without condescending. Fans of Bat may also love (as I do) Linda Urban’s Weekends With Max and His Dad and Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick’s Two Naomis. (Bonus: both books have sequels!) If they’re fantasy lovers, readers should also pick up Anne Ursu’s The Real Boy. Graphic novel enthusiasts will love Sally J. Pla’s Stanley Will Probably Be Fine, illustrated by Steve Wolfhard. And, if your reader wants another book with a fantastic teacher, direct them toward John David Anderson’s Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. 

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About the Book

Pub Date: March 27, 2018

Buy It!

 The second book in the irresistible and “quietly groundbreaking”* young middle grade series starring Bat, an unforgettable boy on the autism spectrum. For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor. When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons. Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends. Bat just wants everything to go back to normal. He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance… 

About Elana K. Arnold 

Elana K. Arnold grew up in California, where she, like Bat, was lucky enough to have her own perfect pet — a gorgeous mare named Rainbow — and a family who let her read as many books as she wanted. She is the author of picture books, middle grade novels, and books for teens, including the National Book Award finalist title What Girls Are Made Of. Elana lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. She calls the “Bat” series for Walden Pond Press “books of her heart.” You can find her online at www.elanakarnold.com.

Giveaway: GRANTED by John David Anderson

John David Anderson is one of my favorite middle grade authors to recommend to young readers because, once they're hooked on his writing, he'll take them on adventures through a variety of genres, where they'll meet fantastic, memorable characters. His newest novel, Granted, is no exception to this rule! 

I'm thrilled to kick off the blog tour for Granted with a giveaway! Learn more about the book and enter below.

Granted by John David Anderson 
Pub Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
ISBN: 9780062643865 
Buy It!

Everyone who wishes upon a star, or a candle, or a penny thrown into a fountain knows that you’re not allowed to tell anyone what you’ve wished for. But even so, rest assured: There is someone out there who hears it. 
Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets is no ordinary fairy – she is a Granter: one of the select few whose job it is to venture beyond the boundaries of the Haven and grant the wishes of unsuspecting humans every day. It’s the work of the Granters that generate the magic that allows the fairies to do what they do and to keep the Haven hidden and safe. But with worldwide magic levels at an all-time low, this is not as easy as it sounds. On a typical day, only a small fraction of the millions of potential wishes get granted. And even granting those promised few means navigating a human world fraught with danger. 
Today, however, is anything but typical. Because today, Ophelia is going out on her first assignment. And she’s about to discover that getting what you truly want takes much more than a handful of fairy dust.

About the Author

John David Anderson is the author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day, Posted, Sidekicked, Minion, and The Dungeoneers. A dedicated root beer connoisseur and chocolate fiend, he lives with his wife, two kids, and perpetually whiny cat in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can visit him online at www.johndavidanderson.org.

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