A Crystal Kite Finalist!

The Ballad of Jessie Pearl is a finalist for the Southeast Region's Crystal Kite Award. 

Other finalists include:

1. Anubis Speaks by Vicky Alvear Shecter
2. Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes
3. Wild Discoveries: Wacky New Animals by Heather Montgomery and
4. The Culling by Steven dos Santos

I am proud JESSIE is a finalist and send hearty congratulations to the other authors and their wonderful books!

Looking for the History in Historical Fiction

When presenting to students and teachers about my book, The Ballad of Jessie Pearl, I always mention Jim Murphy's non-fiction title, Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never Ending Search for a Cure. So it was with great interest that I read a blog post by Lisa Storm Fink called Looking for the History in Historical Fiction: An Epidemic for Reading.

Lisa shares ways teachers can use historical fiction and nonfiction titles about communicable diseases in the classroom. I particularly like that she offers two attachments:

1. Questions to Consider While Reading Historical Fiction and
2. A List of Applicable Titles.

Several more books about infectious diseases have been written since the list in number two was compiled. I would suggest teachers also consider the following:

1. Winnie's War by Jennie Moss, (Spanish Influenza).

2. Blue and its sequel Comfort by Joyce Moyer Hostetter, (Polio).








3. The Ballad of Jessie Pearl by Shannon Hitchcock, (Tuberculosis).

4. Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure by Jim Murphy.

The ALAN Review: A New Voice In Historical Fiction

Here's a selfie of me holding the Winter 2014 issue of The ALAN Review:

On pages 62-65 is an article about me called, "Shannon Hitchcock: A New Voice in Historical Fiction." The article was written by KaaVonia Hinton, a professor at Old Dominion University. KaaVonia had blogged about THE BALLAD OF JESSIE PEARL shortly after it was published and that led to a subsequent interview.

It's very exciting for me when teachers recognize the history in my book and find ways to use it in the classroom. A big thank you to KaaVonia for introducing JESSIE to the ALAN community!