Stories of Resilience
Heather Murphy Capps, Erin Soderberg Downing, and Pete Hautman
moderated by Laurie Hertzel
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Youth & Comics Stage, 11:30am
Join authors Heather Murphy Capps, Erin Soderberg Downing, and Pete Hautman as they discuss themes of resilience and overcoming obstacles in their latest middle-grade novels. Through the journeys of their young protagonists—a kid who doesn’t fit in at school learning to stand up for himself with the help of his dog, a daughter going on a challenging hiking trip with her mom to heal after family upheaval, and a young baseball player navigating racial tensions on and off the field—these books reveal the courage it takes to confront personal, family, and social challenges and rise above them.
About the Authors
Heather Murphy Capps is an award-winning author of middle-grade books about history, social justice, science, and magic. As a biracial parent and an education equity activist, Heather is passionate about creating diversity in publishing. Her critically acclaimed debut novel Indigo and Ida made Booklist’s 2023 “Top 10 First Novels for Youth,” and was a finalist in the Jane Addams 2024 Children’s Book Awards; her latest book, The Rule of Three, is headed for similar acclaim, with a starred review in School Library Journal saying, “This book belongs in all middle school libraries.” A native Minnesotan, Heather now lives in Virginia. Visit her at heathermurphycapps.com.
Erin Soderberg Downing has written more than 50 books for kids, tweens, and young adults, including several popular series for young readers: The Great Peach Experiment, Puppy Pirates, and The Quirks. Her bestselling middle grade novel Controlled Burn, a 2023 Northeastern Minnesota Book Award winner, is now joined by another heartfelt tale of family adventure, Just Keep Walking. Erin loves reading, swimming, exploring the woods, traveling with her family, and walking around Minneapolis lakes with her fluffy and mischievous dogs, Wally and Nutmeg. Visit her at erinsoderberg.com.
Pete Hautman is the author of many books for young adults and adults, including the National Book Award–winning Godless, the Klaatu Diskos trilogy, Otherwood, winner of an Edgar Award, and Eden West. His just released book Answers to Dog, will have animal lovers cheering as it explores a friendship like no other and offers a realistic look at rural life, even as it sometimes tells its story from a dog’s perspective. Pete divides his time between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Visit him at petehautman.com.
Laurie Hertzel is a former Books Editor at the Minnesota Star Tribune, a past president of the National Book Critics Circle, and author of the Minnesota Book Award-winning memoir News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist. In 2023, she was awarded the Kerlan Award in recognition of exceptional support of the field of children’s literature. She is currently a freelance book critic and teaches in the University of Georgia low residency MFA program.
