Jarrett J. Krosoczka – författare

In these hilarious stories by some of the top authors of middle grade fiction today, each young character is coping with a minor superpower—while also discovering their power to change themselves and their community, find their voice, and celebrate what makes them unique.Everyone knows that superheroes are supposed to have awesome powers like strength or invisibility or flight. But what happens when you’re a mostly regular kid . . . who’s just a little bit super?In these hilarious and thought-provoking stories from today’s top middle grade authors, a group of kids are each coping with a recently discovered minor superpower. One can shape-shift—but only part of her body, and only on Mondays. Another can always tell when an avocado is perfectly ripe. One can even hear the thoughts of animals in the pet store—which can be about as heart-tugging as you might imagine. It’s hard enough to be in middle school even without some weird ability, but these kids not only find their way to owning their unique powers and potential, they use them to change things for the better . . . and getting there with them is half the fun!These playful tales prompt readers to consider what their own superpower might be, and how they can use it."Award-winning contributors keep delightfully inclusive and accomplished company in this emotionally grounded, compassionate collection. . . . These are not your run-of-the-mill, cape-and-tights-clad superheroes. These are kids with relatable struggles learning to embrace that quirky bit of themselves that makes them unique." —ALA Booklist (starred review)Written by Pablo Cartaya, Nikki Grimes, Leah Henderson, Jarrett Krosoczka, Remy Lai, Kyle Lukoff, Meg Medina, Daniel Nayeri, Linda Sue Park, Mitali Perkins, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Gary D. Schmidt, Brian Young, and Ibi Zoboi; coedited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt.

An important graphic novel memoir that was a US NationalBook Award Finalist.In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to drawhis family, with a mommy and a daddy.But Jarrett's family is much more complicatedthan that.His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, andin and out of Jarrett's life.His father is a mystery - Jarrett doesn't knowwhere to find him, or even what his name is.Jarrett lives with his grandparents - two veryloud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought theywere through with raising children until Jarrett came along.Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normallife as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself throughdrawing even as so little is being said to him about what'sgoing on.Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece togetherthe truth of his family, reckoning with his mother andtracking down his father. Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoirabout growing up in a family grappling with addiction, andfinding the art that helps you survive.Jarrett's TEDTalk about growing up and becominga children's book illustrator, How A Boy Becamean Artist, has over a million views

The extraordinary - and extraordinarily powerful - follow-upto Hey, Kiddo.When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of aprogramme that sent students to be counsellors at a camp for seriouslyill kids and their families. Going into it, Jarrett was worried:wouldn't it be depressing, to be around kids facing such aserious struggle? Wouldn't it be grim?But instead of the shadow of death, Jarrett found something elseat Camp Sunshine: the hope and determination that gets peoplethrough the most troubled of times. Not only was he subject to someof the usual rituals that come with being a camp counselor (wildernesschallenges, spooky campfire stories, an extremely stinkymascot costume), but he also got a chance to meet some extraordinarykids facing extraordinary circumstances. He learned about thecaptivity of illness, for sure but he also learned about the freedoma safe space can bring.Now, in his follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo , Jarrett brings readers back to Camp Sunshine sowe can meet the campers and fellow counselors who changed the courseof his life.