"Hilarious . . . Readers with a finely tuned sense of the absurd are going to adore the Technicolor ride." —Booklist
"Fantasy done to a clever, grotesque, nonsensical turn." —Chicago Sun-Times
"A work of mischievous imagination and outrageous invention." —Time Out Chicago
"One of the more singular young adult fantasies—or fantasies, period—I've run across . . . Funny, bizarre, action-packed, and even thoughtful, and stocked with a gallery of larger-than-life characters." —Green Man Review
Sunday, April 29, 2018
The BOSTON screening of the seventh annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival! At the Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St, Boston, MA). Hosted by me and National Book Award winning author M.T. Anderson (Feed, Octavian Nothing, Landscape With Invisible Hand). 2-4 pm. Make your free reservation here. Saturday, November 17, 2018
Speaking about the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival at the NCTE Conference in Houston, TX! The presentation is named "Young Filmmakers Speak: How collaborative, student-centered filmmaking programs raise student voice" and it will be presented by me and Eti Berland. At the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX, in room 361 D, from 8:00-9:15 am. Friday, January 11, 2019
General deadline for the EIGHTH ANNUAL 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. Saturday, February 9, 2019
The SAN ANTONIO screening of the eighth annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. Details TBA.
I am interviewed by Betsy Bird for the School Library Journal’s Fuse #8 blog. Check it out if you want to read about my opinions on Zork, my life in the convent, and why The Jeffersons is superior to Catcher in the Rye. Many in the comments section deem this the “Best. Interview. Ever.” Dare you disagree? I am interviewed by the lovely Senfaye on A Maze Of Books. Read it if you’re curious as to why I chose to end the interview by saying “I hate you”—and why when Senfaye asked “What’s your favorite food?” I replied “Your skull.” It’s scandalous! I am interviewed by Amy Alessio for the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Read about my experiences as a junior high school science teacher—in particular, of how the entire faculty was mysteriously menaced by a obscene note-writing student known only as “The Foggy Wiener.” I also talk about my participation in Japan’s violent “Naked Man” Festival, and how I discovered the President of the ALA is a whimsical hobo. Order of Odd-Fish Week on Murphblog. Check out Paul Michael Murphy's monster five-part interview with me! Part One, the road to publication; Part Two, on writing; Part Three, I reveal the thing I will always find funny; Part Four, the "lightning round"; Part Five, a Create-Your-Own-Odd-Fish-Specialty contest (entries are in the comments section); and I judge the winner of the contest. I am interviewed by Melissa at the Book Nut blog. I talk about the difficulties of getting The Order of Odd-Fish published, my high school friend who was the inspiration for Jo, the idea of an “urban Narnia,” and the origin of the All-Devouring Mother character. Melissa also posted a glowing review here.
Hoo man oh nelly, Jessica’s good! When I was first told that Audible was producing an audiobook for The Order of Odd-Fish, I kinda wanted to be the reader myself. Not anymore. Jessica nailed it. She’s a terrific actress, with a million voices and accents—how does she keep track of them all and keep them consistent? She did a much better job than I ever could’ve done. (I especially like her languid, flirtatious Aunt Lily.) Jessica’s comic delivery and timing makes me laugh out loud at my own book—which either means I’m an incredible narcissist, or that Jessica Almasy has got the goods. She’s got the goods!
In Part Five of Odd-Fish week, Paul proposes a contest: for you to make your own specialty for the Order of Odd-Fish! Prize is a personalized, autographed hardback of Odd-Fish from me, plus a CD of the Odd-Fish mix tape / soundtrack, and—Paul’s idea—if you’re a writer, a “first-pages” critique from me. (For what that’s worth!) Some contestants have already submitted their invented specialties in the comments section. The competition is stiff!
Thanks, Paul, for hosting such a fantastic Odd-Fish week on your blog! I’m looking forward to meeting you in real life.
Katie’s ending reveals that the bubble gum monster is a force of chaos who works for neither side. Probably impatient with the endless squabbling of both the moneymen and the strange ship monsters, he ties them all up, probably just to get them to calm down and talk reasonably about their problems. But the bubble gum monster learns that lone wolves are soon running dogs. The droid 5-0-6 saves the day with his inimitable style. But I’ll let Katie tell the story, with her great drawings and—wait a second! Is her bubble gum monster a cyclops—just like the moneyman whose shell was broken? Suddenly new levels of gnostic meaning open before me. WHAT ARE YOU TELLING ME, KATIE?! I have a feeling you’re toying with us all.
The bubble gum monster also figures prominently in Alex Hait’s ending. Alex is an extraordinary artist: the battle scene is marvelously unhinged, especially his many-limbed space ship. But I particularly love his bubble gum man, who grins maliciously as he wraps up Carziperes, Diploziperes, and Zarzit in a huge bubble (which also seems to make the monsters fall asleep). Look at his feral glare in the last frame. What does he intend to do with the three monsters now that they are wrapped up in his bubble? The story ends, and our imagination is left to supply the horrifying denouement. Alex, like Katie, realizes that some questions are better left unanswered.
