Summer News!
Free Period goes international, a crafting circle, giveaways galore, and upcoming events!
FREE PERIOD School Library Journal Starred Review and Audiofile Magazine Earphones Award Winner.
First, some bragging. School Library Journal just gave FREE PERIOD a starred review saying, “Smartly crafted, this is a modern Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret told with verve and humor, and can be shared with all students.” Read the full review here!
And Audiofile Magazine awarded the incredible performance by Josephine Huang and Cassandra Morris, produced by Scholastic Audio, an Earphones Award, saying “Morris's dynamic narration and vibrant dialogue capture Gracie's wholehearted embrace of the cause. While Helen is initially hesitant about participating in the project, her perspective shifts when an unexpected period lands her in the school nurse's office. Huang portrays Helen's skepticism with nuanced pacing and just the right inflection. Together, the narrators' skillful delivery will immerse listeners in this compelling story.” Read the full review here!
As a disabled author who reads most books on audio this means the absolute world to me! I hope that these two reviews will empower even more librarians and teachers to share FREE PERIOD with their students. It is on Hoopla friends - you can’t lose! https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobook/free-period-ali-terese/16521710
International book news!
FREE PERIOD is launching in Australia and New Zealand this Thursday, August 1st! Count this as a dream I didn’t even know I could have! Thank you so much to Scholastic Australia for taking a chance on this fartfest of a middle grade comedy where a couple of chaos monsters fight to get maxipads in all school bathrooms for all students who menstruate. I hope kids have so much with it.
To celebrate, I’ll be hosting a giveaway on my Instagram page so please head over there Wednesday night Eastern time, Thursday morning in Australia. This is my first ever giveaway that is open internationally and it includes a maxipad book cozy which may be the cutest thing I’ve ever made, and I once made a series hats to make my baby look like Yoda, a gnome, and an acorn. Seriously, I wish I could win. No purchase necessary. Not affiliated with anyone but me sending weird yarn stuff out in the mail.
FREE PERIOD Zoom crafting circle and giveaway
When I say that you can crochet a uterus I literally mean you! It is fun and relaxing and you get something weird to display at the end. But I know it can be a little intimidating too and sometimes we have find adaptive techniques that work. So let’s have a crafting circle! On Wednesday, September 18 at 8:00pm Eastern I’ll host a zoom where we can crochet and chat and hopefully I can help you get started or trouble shoot. RSVP using this link—newsletter subscribers get first dibs—and let me know if you need a crochet kit so I can mail you one in time. I only have 8 and then they’re all gone, but look at that cute teensy ball of yarn! I’ll send out the Zoom link two days before the event!!
VOTES FOR GOATS art sneak peek
My next middle grade book is called VOTES FOR G.O.A.T.S! It launches August 2025 with Simon & Schuster / Aladdin. I am so thrilled to share that Bev Johnson, the incredible character designer and illustrator who created my FREE PERIOD bookmarks and character art, has illustrated Meg, Jo, and Babette. And you are getting the first sneak peek!!! Bev illustrates everything from picture books to adult comics and one of the reasons I love her work so much is that she captures the energy of tween characters along with all their hope and care for the world. Plus Babette is even cuter than I imagined her. I am currently working on the book with my fabulous editor Alyson Heller and am so excited to be part of the Aladdin team. More soon!
Fall appearances and free activities
I’ve started booking for Fall and can’t wait until it is time for apples donuts and pumpkin picking! Please feel free to reach out at alitereseauthor@gmail.com if you’d like me to join you in person or by Zoom. I’m especially hoping to engage with lots of readers around Period Action Day around October 12, 2024 and will be appearing at the Brooklyn Public Library that week. Find author visit options for schools, libraries, and clubs on my author website.
California Reading Association 57th Annual Conference
Virtual event
October 4, 2024 at 5:40pm Pacific
Glen Rock Children’s Book Festival, Harding Plaza, Glen Rock, NJ
October 5, 2024 from 11am-3pm Eastern
Period Action Day at the Brooklyn Public Library - King’s Bay Branch
October 10, 2024 at 3:30pm Eastern
NCTE – National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention
Boston, MA
November 21-24, 2024
I’ve added more free activities to the Resources page of my Author website. Having been on the road since September for FREE PERIOD I can honestly say crafting gets the conversation going. It is a lot easier to talk about tough issues while we’re laughing and making bracelets together. One of my faves that I’ve added is the Pin the Drop on the Maxipad where a group can create a visual representation of why they care about period equity as a way to facilitate conversation or to bring to a meeting with decision makers as a powerful prop.
Kidlit book recs
If you love book recs let’s connect on Instagram because I love sharing my faves there!! Here are a few recent reads that are available right now!
PLAIN JANE AND THE MERMAID by Vera Brosgol with color by Alec Longsterth was a family read and we just kept yelling patriarchy!! and gasping at each other in the beginning. By the end I was bawling and clutching the book to my heart. Jane is everything, and I was not prepared for her bravery, verve, and compassion. A must read! (Upper Middle Grade)
ISABEL IN BLOOM by Mae Respicio, performed by Danice Cabanela is a bright novel-in-verse that felt like such a breath of fresh air. The poetry is personal and intricate but opens to embrace the story of new beginnings and hope through form and energy. Isabel's mother moved to the US for work years ago and now they will finally be reunited in San Francisco. While she's always dreamed of living with her mother, these are huge changes for Isabel--leaving family and friends, her home in the Philippines, and her beloved gardens all during middle school. Oof! When she's excluded at lunch at her new school, Isabel discovers the building’s former garden and decides to bring it back to life. I absolutely loved it! (Middle Grade)
THE LAST RHEE WITCH by Jenna Lee-Yun - Whew I was not ready for this book, even after reading the flap copy, and all the twists and turns as it built to a thrilling and emotional crescendo. Ronnie lives with Dad since she lost her mom and plans to spend the summer hanging out as she always has until her bestie decides to go to camp. Fun right? Um, well where it is located…“with no remaining heirs, the new owners of the estate decided the best use of the scene of a murder was a youth camp.” Oh yeah, Ronnie ends up at Camp Foster, where every year at least one camper is haunted by a ghost. As the summer unfolds, we don’t know what is real or who to believe, but it sure seems that spirits, goblins, witches, and monsters walk among the campers. Ronnie not only has to solve the mystery of what the spirits want, but also explore her own identity and questions whether she is “Korean enough.” It is a heartbreaking and beautiful and empowering journey. It is everything! (Middle Grade)
ONE KILLER PROBLEM by Justine Pucella Winans, performed by Katherine Littrell is an absolute romp of a mystery perfect for teen readers. Forget about laugh out loud, there were times when I was literally cackling. And because it is Justine Pucella Winans you know all that incredible humor is balanced with powerfully emotional writing too. Katherine Littrell has perfect comic timing which made it all pop even more on audio. What a fantastic summer read! Highly recommend!!! (Young Adult)