I look forward to being part of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians’ Spring 2023 Mini-Con, an online event with the theme “Hope & Healing” on Saturday, April 1, 2023. In our session titled Big Emotions in Middle Grade Fiction: Three Authors Discuss Finding Hope and Healing on the Page, Karuna Riazi (A Bit of Earth), Bree Barton (Zia Erases the World), and I (Wishing Season) will discuss how stories with big emotions—including isolation, sadness, depression, and grief—can serve young readers: offering hope, healing, refuge, and recognition, and opening the door to important conversations. Conference attendees may tune in to the session live or watch the recording later. If you’re a school librarian, I’d love to see you there! Here’s where to register.