Wendelin Van Draanen’s bestselling, award-winning books are read by teens and adults around the world. Known for their humor, adventure, and heart, she explores serious themes in a relatable and gripping way. Once you open Wild Bird and enter the desert with Wren, there is no turning back.
“It’s 3:47 a.m. when they come for Wren Clemmens. Wren has gone so far off the rails that her parents don’t know how to handle her anymore. In a desperate move, they have her hustled out of her house and into a waiting car, then a plane, and then taken on a forced march into the desert. This is wilderness therapy camp. Eight weeks of surviving the unforgiving elements. Eight weeks to turn her life around.”
Marketed for sixth grade and up, “Wild Bird”, is published by Knopf/Random House. Van Draanen says this latest book was inspired by “being a parent, a teacher, a friend…and having worked with at-risk teens.”
Van Draanen’s other titles include “Flipped” which was named a Top 100 Children’s Novel for the 21st Century by SLJ and became a Rob Reiner directed Warner Brothers feature film in 2010; “The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones” (2017 winner of Bank Street College of Education’s Josette Frank Award); “The Running Dream” (winner of ALA’s Schneider Award); and the popular, long-running “Sammy Keyes” mystery series, often referred to as “the new Nancy Drew.”
MEET THE AUTHOR: Van Draanen grew up in Monrovia and will be “coming home” to give a free presentation on Monday, Sept. 11 at the Monrovia Public Library from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
She will discuss reading, writing, the book-to-movie experience, and how growing up in Monrovia influenced her work. Books will be available for sale.
