Friday Focus: Victoria Jamieson

Happy May and the end of our sixth week of virtual learning! Our fifth Friday Focus author is Victoria Jamieson! Ms. Jamieson has a lot of fans at TMS. Copies of her Newbery Honor winning, Roller Girl and her second graphic novel, All's Faire in Middle School are rarely on the shelf. First stop is Ms. Jamieson's website:

victoriajamieson.com

There is a lot to explore there. Definitely check out her bio page. But, grab a pencil and sketch paper and scroll down the home page to view her video with tips for drawing your own graphic novel! Very easy to follow!

Below that, is a link to a pdf where you can read all about how Roller Girl came to be. I always love telling students that Ms. Jamieson actually skates roller derbies! So cool!

Image: victoriajamieson.com

Mini Book Talks

Image: Penguin Random House

Roller Girl. Dial Books/ Penguin Random House, March, 2015. 9780525429678.

Twelve-year-old Astrid has done everything with her best friend, Nicole. The two are planning to attend ballet camp during the summer. Then, Astrid learns about roller derby. And there's a camp to learn how! Nicole is absolutely not interested. How can Astrid learn roller derby and maintain her friendship with Nicole? Featuring plenty of vibrant color, humor and bone-cracking roller derby action, Ms. Jamieson's debut is a crowd pleaser and also won a Newbery Honor!

Image: Penguin Random House

All's Faire in Middle School/ Dial Books/ Penguin Random House, September, 2017. 9780525429982.

Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has grown up in a Renaissance Faire family. Her parents are actors in the faire and she has been homeschooled all her life. Now, she's old enough to apprentice as a squire in the faire and she thinks she's ready for middle school. Or is she? 

Image: Penguin Random House

When Stars are Scattered/ co-written with Omar Mohamed. Dial Books/ Penguin Random House, April 14, 2020.9780525553915.

I cannot wait to reread this book in full-color. I read it as an arc and was absolutely blown away. Here's a link to my review. Ms. Jamieson teamed up with Omar Mohamed to tell the story of his time spent in a refugee camp in Kenya after he and his brother walked all the way from war-torn Somalia. Omar and his brother spent years waiting for permission to immigrate. Their story is inspiring, heartbreaking and hopeful.  I anticipate hearing a lot about this book come awards season. It's a 2020 favorite of mine.