Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America

Think you know what rural America is like? Discover a plurality of perspectives in this enlightening anthology of stories that turns preconceptions on their head.

Gracie sees a chance of fitting in at her South Carolina private school, until a “white trash”–themed Halloween party has her steering clear of the rich kids. Samuel’s Tejano family has both stood up to oppression and been a source of it, but now he’s ready to own his true sexual identity. A Puerto Rican teen in Utah discovers that being a rodeo queen means embracing her heritage, not shedding it….

For most of America’s history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors’ real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors―diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status―explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you’ll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed―and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own.

Featuring contributors:
David Bowles
Joseph Bruchac
Veeda Bybee
Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Shae Carys
S. A. Cosby
Rob Costello
Randy DuBurke
David Macinnis Gill
Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
Estelle Laure
Yamile Saied Méndez
Ashley Hope Pérez
Tirzah Price
Monica Roe
Contributor Bio(s)
Nora Shalaway Carpenter is a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and is the author of the young adult novel The Edge of Anything and the picture book Yoga Frog. Previously, she worked as associate editor of Wonderful West Virginia magazine and has been a certified yoga teacher since 2012. Originally from West Virginia, Nora Shalaway Carpenter currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, three young children, and the world’s most patient dog and cat.
Quotes/Reviews
The writers bring authentic voices to their work in addition to their biographies, shared at the back of the book. This collection will be a high-interest read for middle and high school students…This book is a must-purchase for libraries serving middle and high school readers.
―School Library Connection

The compilation successfully meets the challenge of serving as a cohesive whole while providing readers with enough variety of tone, pace, and voice to keep the reading experience interesting. A fresh and highly accessible contribution.
―Kirkus Reviews

From laughing out loud to holding back tears, readers who enjoy emotionally resonant books will not be disappointed. Those from similar geographic areas will be nodding their heads while every reader, regardless of location, will connect to the universal triumphs and tribulations of teen life. Fans of Rainbow Rowell will dive headfirst into this collection. A great addition that explores an often misrepresented portion of readers.
―School Library Journal

With carefully curated precision spanning poetry, comic, and prose, this anthology turns the spotlight on young adults living in rural areas of the United States…Themes including self-discovery, expression, and self-acceptance thread throughout. While some entries may hold less appeal than others, the wide range of representation ensures that readers will find an authentic voice to their liking.
―Publishers Weekly

A generous handful of the tales offer particularly rich storytelling―S. A. Cosby’s story of a fraught encounter between a wealthy Black entrepreneur and his blue collar Black employee over a missing watch; Ashley Hope Pérez’s poem in which stealthy references to sexual abuse are tucked among verses extolling the beauty and camaraderie of rural life; and stories by Rob Costello and Nasugraq Rainey Hopson in which teens in the Catskills and in Alaska confront specters from respective local lore.
―Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Rural Voices is a must-read for all of us who call the country home and those who don’t but want a glimpse at the beautiful diversity of country life all the same.
―Country Living
157 (149) . CandlewickCandlewick Press
San Min Book Co., Ltd.
Carton Qty: 1

Return of ZomBert
Kara LaReau, Ryan Andrews
Return of ZomBert
Kara LaReau, Ryan Andrews (Illustrated by)
FRONTLIST | On Sale Date: July 19, 2022
9781536226072, 1536226076
Trade Paperback
$7.99 USD, $10.99 CAD
Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Cats
Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7
Returnable: Y
160 pages
Series: The Zombert Chronicles
8.3 in H | 5.5 in W | 0.8 lb Wt
Status: Forthcoming
Sales Rights: World
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Summary
A second meaty serving of the ZomBert Chronicles offers a suspenseful treat for animal lovers and fans of spooky mysteries.

ZomBert is back in book two of a wry new mystery series by award-winning creators Kara LaReau and Ryan Andrews. A stray cat who escaped the YummCo Laboratories on the outskirts of Lambert, Bert has now been officially adopted by nine-year-old Mellie Gore. He spends his days dozing in Mellie’s room and his nights hunting…and devouring fresh prey. Bert’s health and memory have returned, and his newfound strength and smarts are off the charts. Mellie, meanwhile, is busy working odd jobs to fund her cat’s visit to the vet, convinced that Bert can win the Best Pet contest at the upcoming YummCo-sponsored Harvest Festival. But is Bert really the best pet in Lambert―or just the weirdest? And could he be plotting revenge? Clever illustrated fare for fans of Bunnicula and other humorous forays into the macabre.
Contributor Bio(s)
Kara LaReau is the author of several books for young readers, including Rise of ZomBert and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book The Infamous Ratsos and its sequels. She is also the author of the middle-grade series The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters. Kara LaReau lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ryan Andrews is a comics artist and illustrator. He is the illustrator of Rise of ZomBert by Kara LaReau, The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobsen, and the author-illustrator of the graphic novel This Was Our Pact. Two of his web comics have been nominated for Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. Ryan Andrews lives in Fukuoka, Japan.
Quotes/Reviews
Bert, the cat Mellie adopted in series opener Rise of ZomBert (2020), may not be a zombie…but she’s sure he’s special…. Perspectives alternate chapter by chapter among Mellie (related in the first person) and Bert (in a third-person cat voice) and the Yumms (third-person bad guy), and the story moves at a nice clip.
―Kirkus Reviews
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