Author of award-winning, adventurous realistic and historical fiction

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Around the Blogosphere

Oct 16, 2019 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Disaster Days has been making its way around the blogosphere and Bookstagram, and I’m so grateful to the reviewers, bloggers, and bookstagrammers who’ve taken the time to read and then write such thoughtful reviews!

“Really, really enjoyed this!” Ms. Yingling Reads

“This story was truly page-turning and exciting” Tara Creel Books

“I was enraptured enough by this book that I kept getting feelings of sorrow with each thing that happened to them. I wanted to reach into the book and, if nothing else, grab hold of them and let them know it was going to be okay.” Reading Authors

“Are you serious with this book?! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time while reading” @TheSmileLines via KidLitExchange

“Rebecca Behrens’s The Disaster Days is a compelling and empowering middle-grade disaster story that will have readers on the edge of their seats and breathless!” Aeicha at Word Spelunking

“Readers who like adventure and wonder what it would be like to live/survive in an earthquake zone will be riveted to every page of Hannah’s story.” The Reading Tub

“Behrens does a great job drawing readers into experiencing the children’s feelings of fear and hopelessness. Each chapter has enough peril and nail biting angst to keep even the most reluctant reader eagerly reading to find out what will happen next to Hannah and her charges.” You Decide: Should I Read It Or Not?

“Very much recommended to anyone who loves kids surviving on their own stories!” Charlotte’s Library

“I really liked how Hannah develops as a character, making mistakes, but doing everything she can to care for herself and the younger children and a cute guinea pig.” Stephanie Tournas, Youth Services Book Review

“The writing was so well done…fun and fresh, and exciting.” The Pages In Between

“Though set in the Pacific Northwest this tense tale of post-earthquake survival is equally relevant to other areas where natural disasters are a constant threat, and may encourage middle grade readers to think and find out about their family and school disaster plans.” Bibliobrit

“This one is a definite must-read, must-have.” Mom Read It

“It’s The Babysitter’s Club meets Hatchet! Enough said.” Miss Print

Check out the amazing emergency kit video from Bookstagrammer @RidaPageTurner!

“Suspenseful reading for students and adults alike!” Ms_D_Reads

“I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down.” The Librarian Is On the Loose

Blurbs!

Mar 29, 2016 | , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’m excited to share two wonderful blurbs for Summer of Lost and Found, from two writers whose work I adore.

Jodi Lynn Anderson has written two of my all-time favorite books, Tiger Lily and My Diary from the Edge of the World. Lately whenever I meet up with another MG reader, I immediately ask: Have you read Diary yet?! It’s a story with so much heart and creativity, and it has a collection of lovable and funny and complex characters. It’s poignant and funny and surprising. And I’d follow the Lockwood family just about anywhere.

Caroline Starr Rose wrote May B. and Blue Birds, which is a verse historical novel about a Roanoke Island. Blue Birds was published while I was working on Summer of Lost and Found, and I decided to wait until my book went to copy edits before reading it. It was really the best reward. The book is rich in historical detail, beautiful and moving writing, and a powerful theme of friendship and understanding. I’m really excited that Caroline and I had a great conversation about writing Roanoke–including the research process, the facts we found most fascinating, and our own feelings about what really happened to the Lost Colony. I’ll let you know when we share it on her site in May.

So here are the blurbs:

“I was edge-of-my-seat interested while reading Summer of Lost and Found. Rebecca Behrens has the ability to make the past irresistible and weave it into a present-day story that will satisfy fans of both mystery and adventure.” —Caroline Starr Rose, author of  Blue Birds

 

“A sweet, sparkling setting, a historical riddle, and a quirky cast make this little gem of a mystery a pure pleasure to read.” —Jodi Lynn Anderson, author of  My Diary from the Edge of the World

I’m so grateful to Caroline and Jodi for reading Summer and sharing their thoughts. And if you haven’t already–go get their books!

The Big Snow

Jan 24, 2016 | , , ,

You may have heard that the East Coast was walloped with a snowstorm this weekend. As a Wisconsinite, the sound of snowplows scraping the pavement and snowblowers bustling down the blocks made me feel happily at home. I had a great time watching the snow from indoors, while writing and reading and making cookies. But I did venture outside–I had to see the record-breaking snow for myself! Here are some scenes from the city during and after the snow:

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Half-buried car on an empty avenue

Sledders heading to the park, during the storm

Sledders heading to the park, during the storm

More sledders in the street

More sledders in the street

Manhattan without cars was kind of magical

Silent night

The snowy streets were magical

The snowy streets were magical

Another quiet street

Another quiet street

Do you want to build a snowman?

The next morning: Do you want to build a snowman?

Frozen CitiBikes

Frozen Citibikes

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Sledding!

 

 

On Pub Day

Feb 4, 2014 | , , , , , , ,

This is a really hard post to write and a really easy one, too. It’s hard because I’ve thought about this day for so long–in terms of when I started writing for publication, five years; and in terms of how long I’ve secretly dreamed of being an author, probably my whole life. It’s easy because the only thing I really want to say is this: Thank You.

Writing isn’t easy, and neither is publishing. There are ups and downs and of course I’ve had plenty of both along the way. But one thing I’ve never lacked is enthusiastic support: from my friends and family, from my agency and publisher, from my delightful and inspiring coworkers, from the other writers and bloggers I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know in the kid-lit community. The only thing that doesn’t feel surreal today is a deep sense of gratitude–that I get to share my words with the world, and that I get to have so many wonderful people cheering me on as I do.

 

One-Word Wednesday

Oct 10, 2012 | , , , , , , , ,

“Gratitude and Rust” by Shannon Kringen (CC)

Thanks for all of the kind words yesterday! I’m overwhelmed in the best possible way with the support and enthusiasm of the writing community. 🙂

(Borrowing this meme today from Katy Upperman)

Little Free Libraries!

Aug 8, 2011 | , , , ,

I’m in love with Little Free Libraries–a grassroots effort to promote literacy and community. I’m also proud that it’s from my home state (and that my hometown is the one place where you can pop in a shop and buy a prefab Little Free Library).

Little Free Library #1 (Source)

The Little Free Library mission:

To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.
To build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations.
To build more than 2,510 libraries around the world–more than Andrew Carnegie!

Little Free Library next to my
 favorite Madison coffeeshop! (Source)

For more info, or to become a Little Free Librarian, check our their website: Little Free Library

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