BOOKS

multicultural middle grade fiction
Starfields
Living in the Mayan jungle, Rosalba knows nothing about the 2012 prophesy of the end of the world. Then sophisticated Alicia comes from Mexico City to tell her all about it...
Take Me With You
Susana and Pina grow up in an Italian orphanage Will either find a parent?
The Gold-Threaded Dress (Candlewick 2002)
Oy, a Thai immigrant, has to decide what she will give up to fit in. What would you do if the most popular girl demanded that you bring or special dress to school, or else?
Mama Had to Work on Christmas (Viking 2003)
Gloria wakes up on Christmas morning to find that Mama is going to work instead of taking her to Nana's house in Mexico to celebrate.
Silk Umbrellas (Candlewick 2004)
Will Noi be sent to the factory to work, or can she learn to paint umbrellas? Will a young artist be able to pursue her gift?
Moon Runner (Candlewick 2005)
What if your best friend is also your biggest rival?
The Quail Club (Candlewick 2006)
In this sequel to The Gold-Threaded Dress, Oy must again make a decision. In the talent show will she do what others want or be true to herself?
The Jade Dragon (Candlewick 2006)
Why won't the new Chinese girl be Ginny's friend?
When Heaven Fell (Candlewick 2007)
Binh's Ameican aunt is coming to her Vietnamese village. Will she bring the riches that Binh longs for?
Bird Springs (Viking 2007)
Gregory has to leave the Navajo reservation for the big city of Tucson.
The Buddha's Diamonds (Candlewick 2008)
Overnight, Tinh's Vietnamese village is destroyed by a cyclone.
Sahwira: An African Friendship (Candlewick 2009)
Can a white boy and an African boy keep their friendship in a changing world?

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NEWS

Candlewick has just accepted my proposal for a YA novel set in 1966 Czechoslovakia. My novel set in contemporary Baghdad, THE WHITE ZONE, has been acquired by Carolrhoda.

In November 2010 I will go to West Africa for author visits to the countries of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. Children's author, Gretchen Woelfle, will also go. I'm very excited to learn about these new cultures!

TAKE ME WITH YOU made the Booklist Top 10 Historical Novels of 2010.

In the fall of 2010, I'll be teaching beginning writing for children, and in spring 2011 intermediate writing for children. These classes will be offered through the University of California at San Diego Extension.

STARFIELDS will be released by Candlewick Press in 2011. This story takes place in Chiapas, Mexico and explores the Mayan 2012 prophesy. Because the Mayan calendar, thousands of years old, ends on December 21, 1012, some speculate that big world changes will ocurr on that date.

THE BUDDHA'S DIAMONDS has been named one of five finalists by the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association. It is also a Booklist Top Ten Religion Novels of 2008.


*My latest project is called THE WHITE ZONE and is set in contemporary Baghdad.

*I'm starting work on two Young Adult projects, both set in Thailand. One is a three-part novel set in the northern jungles with a Hmong boy protagonist. The other is an adaptation of an ancient Thai folktale.


This new painting was done with the monotype process.

Here is my latest collage. It's about four feet tall and was inspired by a painting by the old master, Piero della Francesca.