Beth Kephart Books: Riviera Pears

The pears came treasured in the web of their box, in the crush of their green paper, in the nearness of their time. Wait until they are ready. Wait.

All day long, they sat in the box and ripened, their juices rising.

Beth Kephart Books

A Slant of Sun: One Child's Courage, W.W. Norton, 1998
Into the Tangle of Friendship: A Memoir of the Things that Matter, Houghton Mifflin, 2000
Still Love in Strange Places: A Memoir, W.W. Norton, 2002
Seeing Past Z: Nurturing the Imagination in a Fast-Forward World, W.W. Norton, 2004
Ghosts in the Garden: Endings, Beginnings, and the Unearthing of Self, New World Library, 2005
Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, Temple University Press, 2007
House of Dance, Laura Geringer Books: HarperTeen, May 2008
Undercover, Laura Geringer Books: HarperTeen, 2007
Zenobia: The Curious Book of Business, Berrett-Kohler, January 2008
"The Longest Distance," in No Such Thing as The Real World, HarperTeen, forthcoming May 2009
Nothing But Ghosts, Laura Geringer Books: HarperTeen, forthcoming, June 2009
The Heart is Not a Size, HarperTeen, forthcoming, February 2010
Dangerous Neighbors, Egmont, Fall 2010

The Heart is Not a Size, Nothing but Ghosts, House, and Undercover reviews

The Heart is Not a Size is, by far, Beth Kephart's best YA novel yet. It's an incredibly lovely story about finding out who you really are. The plot was terrific and moved at a good pace, and the writing was stellar- beautiful and poetic, yet simple and heartfelt.

Priya, Book Crumbs

The Heart is Not a Size is a book that will make you want to go out in the world and do something that matters. It will take you into a community that you likely will never visit, and it will make you think about how much you have and what you really need. No surprise that the writer behind this inspiring and thought-provoking novel is Beth Kephart.

Shelf Elf

Like all of Beth Kephart's books, The Heart Is Not a Size is a must-read for teens and for anyone working with teens. Kephart isn't afraid to tackle the big issues like parental pressure, anorexia, and death, and she does it all with compassion, honesty, and beautiful writing.

Em's Bookshelf

Kephart's writing simply flows as she explores the emotions of friendship, the tragedy of poverty, and the importance of giving. Readers will easily relate to Georgia as she struggles to help a friend and finds it more difficult than she dreamed.

The Reading Junky

Nothing but Ghosts is a Kid Lit Cool Picks for Hot Days Choice in the August 2009 issue of Family Circle magazine.

"Beth writes about the quiet miracles of real life. She helps readers to see that ordinary experience, all of it – the trouble and sadness and simple day-to-day joy of it – is worth noticing."

Shelf Elf

"Katie is a great heroine. A girl who works as hard as the men, unafraid of dirt, who flies down dark roads on her bike without incident, and who is as brave as anyone could be when surrounded by the past. She breaks into unique territory as a heroine, a girl who is strong but not masculine, grief-stricken but not tragic. As a character, she is a testament to the delicacy of Kephart’s writing.

"Highly recommended, this book is exceptional. It is one of the most well-written books of the year, worthy of National Book Award and Printz attention."
KidsLitCentral Review

"I loved Katie, loved her dad and all the memories of her mother. I thought the mystery of Martine was authentic and interesting and the way that Katie followed it, with help of the coolest librarian ever, to be quite engaging. The supporting cast also stands out well from Danny (boyfriend material) to Olson, the man who might very well have all the answers. The ending is about as good as it gets making Nothing but Ghosts one of those classic summer success stories. The adventure here might be small, but it's a trip worth taking."
Bookslut Review

"Beth Kephart is a master of capturing the eternal that exists within the ephemeral, using the shiftiest of mediums: words. Ghosts is a beautiful story of a girl, but it is also a meditation on the nature of what lasts, whether it's beauty, love, or regret. A book to read and re-read." Laurie Beth Schneider

"Kephart’s language is diamond-sharp and bright. The city of Barcelona, with its underground ghosts and tunnels, plays a part - so does art and French history, love and family. “How do you go from being a star to being a black hole?’’ the heroine asks, a question pertinent to the neighborhood heiress, her deceased mother, and life itself. If there’s a taste of the paranormal here, there’s also the sustenance and comfort that many teenagers are seeking in books."
(Liz Rosenberg, Boston Globe)

"It is so unconcerned with Things Happening that the characters have space to be themselves, so concerned with the small things happening (pancakes being made, rain falling, the hard squeeze of a child's hand) that they have a real place in which to live. And it is sad, and powerful, and hopeful."
(Charlotte's Library)

"Beth Kephart’s dazzling new novel is wise and wonderful, certain to be a revelation for young adult readers. As Katie makes a few necessary discoveries, she begins to let love in once again. In doing so, she honors an important promise, 'a daughter’s promise: to live my life with my eyes wide open. To honor exuberance, and color.'"
(Ellen Trachtenberg, Book Page)

"... Beth has done a beautiful thing here – she takes us to the truth of what it’s like to deal with loss (the too-big house that feels empty, the withdrawing from friends, the keeping busy to dull the pain) and then lets her characters (and her readers) find comfort and a renewed sense of purpose."
Presenting Lenore

"Kephart’s latest is characterized by the same achingly lovely prose that distinguished her earlier novels for teens, Undercover (2007) and House of Dance (2008).... Teens with a taste for literary fiction will appreciate the deft wordsmithing and be touched by the unabashed tenderness of the narrative...."
(Kirkus Reviews)

"Nothing but Ghosts has great characters, action, romance and splendid writing. You can picture every character and every location. Any of you who has lost a close friend or relative will immediately identify with Katie. If you are lucky enough to not experience a loss, you will be treated to a wonderful story. You can’t lose by reading any Beth Kephart book. She’s a favorite author of mine."
Ed Goldberg, YA Books Central

"... Kephart is a beautiful writer, a gatherer of fine details.... In "House of Dance" Kephart handles many things deftly: the looming presence of death; the forgiveness between parents and children; companionable silence among people who love and understand one another."
(Liz Rosenberg, Boston Globe)

"In the end, "Undercover" is about coming out of hiding, coming up for air. It's also a page-turner, without any of the cheesiness that term implies. "Undercover" is a book bright, lonely teenagers will treasure with fierce affection."
(Liz Rosenberg, Boston Globe)

"...what stands out in this introspective novel is the sheer loveliness of its prose."
(HOUSE OF DANCE starred review, Kirkus)

"Poetically expressed memories and moving dialogue both anchor and amplify the characters’ emotions.:
(HOUSE OF DANCE starred review, Publisher's Weekly)

"... the piercing emotions and family situations, described with lyrical beauty, will hit home with readers who enjoy gentle, emotional journeys, such as Lynne Rae Perkins’ Newbery Medal–winner Criss Cross (1995)."
(HOUSE OF DANCE review, Booklist)

HOUSE OF DANCE is a Family Circle June "must-read"

HOUSE OF DANCE is the lead YA review in the May 31 Chicago Tribune

ZENOBIA is currently being translated into eight languages.

In its starred review of ZENOBIA, Publishers Weekly said, of the book, "could be the most enjoyable, readable business book in recent memory."

UNDERCOVER has been nominated for an ALA Best books for Young Adults Award and a Cybils Award, made the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list, been included in the Capitol Choices for Children and Teens list, made the Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year list, named a top book of 2007 by Amazon.com, named a top book of 2007 by Kirkus Reviews,and named a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal.

"About a wallflower who ghostwrites love notes for the boys in her class, Cyrano-style - until she meets one that she wants for herself. Lyrical but never sappy, this is probably the most beautifully written book we've read this year. It's simply perfect."
Not Your Mother's Bookclub citation/A Top 2007 YA Book

UNDERCOVER is the October Tween Pick at Family Circle Magazine.

“Through Elisa’s poems, letters, and descriptions, Kephart perfectly plumbs the thoughts and feelings of an adolescent girl.” (Starred Review, Kirkus)

“… readers will fall easily into the compelling premise and Elisa’s memorable, graceful voice, and have no trouble recognizing the teen’s quiet courage as she leaves her comfortable isolation, claims her own talents, and embraces the people who matter most.” (Starred Review, Booklist)

“Neatly balancing action and contemplation, Kephart offers a plethora of images, ideas about literature and even some well-known poems along with a plot that will speak to many teens.” (Starred Review, Publishers Weekly)

“... this is a book that no serious-minded teen will want to miss, and high-school teachers may also take note as it has a well-crafted and highly teachable text.” (Starred Review, School Library Journal)

“An unusual story, beautifully told.” (Kliatt)

UNDERCOVER Starred Reviews

“Through Elisa’s poems, letters, and descriptions, Kephart perfectly plumbs the thoughts and feelings of an adolescent girl.” (Kirkus)
“… readers will fall easily into the compelling premise and Elisa’s memorable, graceful voice, and have no trouble recognizing the teen’s quiet courage as she leaves her comfortable isolation, claims her own talents, and embraces the people who matter most.” (Booklist)
“Neatly balancing action and contemplation, Kephart offers a plethora of images, ideas about literature and even some well-known poems along with a plot that will speak to many teens.” (Publishers Weekly)
“... this is a book that no serious-minded teen will want to miss, and high-school teachers may also take note as it has a well-crafted and highly teachable text.” (School Library Journal)

Beth Kephart Books

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Riviera Pears

3 comments:

readergirlz author in residence

About Me

The Drexel InterView

The Heart is Not a Size

Nothing but Ghosts Reading

Nothing but Ghosts

The Longest Distance, an excerpt

Undercover

House of Dance Trailer