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This year, more than 250 books were nominated and 32 were selected as finalists. "West of the Moon" by Margi Preus won best Young People's Literature.
“Astri makes a daring escape from a mean goat farmer, retrieves her little sister, and, armed with a troll treasure, a book of spells and curses, and a possibly magic hairbrush, the two set off for America. Preus is the Newbery Honor-winning author of five books for young readers.”
Listen to Margi Preus’s interview on the Daily Circuit for Minnesota Writers Week, a week of interviews with local writers working today. She talks about her inspirations, including the origins of her writing house. “It's all wooded around, so I have a lot of wildlife to look at. This is good, because I do spend quite a bit of time staring out the window — more than I probably should." Listen now >
The way Preus imagines it in “West of the Moon,” the girl is escaping treacherous relatives and a lecherous goatherd — a story that springs from fairy tales and Norse mythology, but lands on the cusp of adulthood. “There’s something really wonderful about having one foot in childhood but this awareness that the world is about to get much bigger,” Preus said. Read more >
Photo: Kyndell Harkness | Star Tribune
While many details of her ancestors’ own immigration experience informed “West of the Moon,” Preus says her great-great-grandmother’s brief mention of a girl she met on the ship to America revved up her imagination. “As I read over [those lines in the diary],” she says, “I wondered . . . what kind of girl would get on a boat alone and go to America, not knowing anyone? I thought I’d see if I could figure out a story for her.” Read more >
Among the president's purchases at Dululth bookstore, Politics & Prose, was "Heart of a Samurai," a 2010 young adult novel by Margi Preus that was named a Newbery Honor Book. It's the story of a Japanese teenager who has a series of adventures that lead him to play an important political role -- and realize his lifelong dream. Read more >
Follow @MargiPreus to get the latest about news about upcoming book releases, book signings, special events, and more!
