Karen Hesse – författare

Can Tate convince her parents that the stray dog should stay?

From the incomparable Karen Hesse comes a powerfully evocative and accessible family story, set at the turn of the century, by turns serious, funny, and with a touch of magical realism.

Now I didn''t believe a broken-down old unicorn could make wishes come true . . . not for a minute. But what if it could?Mags has a lot to wish for—a nice house with a mama who isn''t tired out from work; a normal little sister; a brother who doesn''t mooch for food; and, once in a while, she''d like some new clothes for school. When her sister Hannie finds a stuffed unicorn, Mags''s wishes start to come true. She knows the unicorn can''t really be magic, but she won''t let anything ruin her newfound luck—even if it means telling her own sister to believe something that can''t possibly be true.

On that day in 1903, fourteen-year-old Joseph Michtom''s life changed irrevocably when his parents—Russian immigrants—created the first teddy bear. No longer did the Michtom''s gather family and friends around the kitchen table to talk. No longer was Joseph at leisure to play stickball with the guys. No longer were Joseph and his book-loving sister free from watching their pesky two-year-old brother. Now—when it was summer vacation and more than anything Joseph wanted to experience the thrill, the grandeur, the electricity of Coney Island—Joseph worked. And complained. And fell in and out of love. And argued. And hoped that everything would go back to how it used to be. All the while no one let him forget that he was lucky.Because—"There are other children. The unwanted, the forgotten, the lost ones. They gather under the bridge each night to sit, to talk, to sleep. They know, they know, they know that to everyone beyond the bridge they are invisible. . . ." These are the children who live under the bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge.Newbery medalist Karen Hesse masterfully entwines Joseph''s coming-of-age tale (and that of his big, colorful family) with the heartbreaking stories of the children under the bridge. Riveting historical fiction that is by turns accessible and ornate, very real but with a touch of magical realism. Hesse''s extraordinary new novel is an insightful reminder that a life—fragile and precious—can change in a moment.Brooklyn Bridge is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

Radley''s parents had warned her that all hell would break loose if the American People''s Party took power. And now, with the president assassinated and the government cracking down on citizens, the news is filled with images of vigilante groups, frenzied looting, and police raids. It seems as if all hell has broken loose.Coming back from volunteering abroad, Radley just wants to get home to Vermont, and the comfort and safety of her parents. Travel restrictions and delays are worse than ever, and by the time Radley''s plane lands in New Hampshire, she''s been traveling for over twenty-four hours. Exhausted, she heads outside to find her parents—who always come, day or night, no matter when or where she lands—aren''t there.Her cell phone is dead, her credit cards are worthless, and she doesn''t have the proper travel papers to cross state lines. Out of money and options, Radley starts walking. . . .This is a vision of a future America that only Karen Hesse could write: real, gripping, and deeply personal.

Karen Hesse has achieved many honors for her more than twenty books over the course of her award-winning career: the Newbery Medal, the Scott O''Dell Historical Fiction Award, the MacArthur Fellowship "Genius" Award, and the Christopher Medal. Her novels burn with intensity, and keenly felt, deeply researched, and are memorable for their imagination and intelligence.So it is with great pride and excitement that we present Karen Hesse''s first novel in over five years: Brooklyn Bridge. It''s the summer of 1903 in Brooklyn and all fourteen-year-old Joseph Michtom wants is to experience the thrill, the grandeur, and the electricity of the new amusement park at Coney Island. But that doesn''t seem likely. Ever since his parents—Russian immigrants—invented the stuffed Teddy Bear five months ago, Joseph''s life has turned upside down. No longer do the Michtom''s gather family and friends around the kitchen table to talk. No longer is Joseph at leisure to play stickball with the guys. Now, Joseph works. And complains. And falls in love. And argues with Mama and Papa. And falls out of love. And hopes. Joseph hopes he''ll see Coney Island soon. He hopes that everything will turn right-side up again. He hopes his luck hasn''t run out—because you never know. Through all the warmth, the sadness, the frustration, and the laughter of one big, colorful family, Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse builds a stunning story of the lucky, the unlucky, and those in between, and reminds us that our lives—all our lives—are fragile, precious, and connected.Brooklyn Bridge is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

From Newbery media winner Karen Hesse comes an unforgettable story of an immigrant family''s journey to America.

"America," the girl repeated. "What will you do there?"I was silent for a little time."I will do everything there," I answered.

Rifka knows nothing about America when she flees from Russia with her family in 1919. But she dreams that in the new country she will at last be safe from the Russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the Jews. Throughout her journey, Rifka carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by Alexander Pushkin. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of letters to Tovah, the beloved cousin she has left behind.

Strong-hearted and determined, Rifka must endure a great deal: humiliating examinations by doctors and soldiers, deadly typhus, separation from all she has ever known and loved, murderous storms at sea, detainment on Ellis Island—and is if this is not enough, the loss of her glorious golden hair.

Based on a true story from the author''s family, Letters from Rifka presents a real-life heroine with an uncommon courage and unsinkable spirit.

Nyle''s life with her grandmother on their Vermont sheep farm advances rhythmically through the seasons until the night of the accident at the Cookshire nuclear power plant. Without warning, Nyle''s modest world fills with protective masks, evacuations, contaminated food, disruptions, and mistrust.

Nyle adjusts to the changes. As long as the fallout continues blowing to the East, Nyle, Gran, and the farm can go on. But into this uncertain haven stumble Ezra Trent and his mother, "refugees" from the heart of the accident, who take temporary shelter in the back bedroom of Nyle''s house.

The back bedroom is the dying room: It took her mother when Nyle was six; it stole away her grandfather just two years ago. Now Ezra is back there and Nyle doesn''t want to open her heart to him. Too many times she''s let people in, only to have them desert her.

Karen Hesse''s voice and vision are grounded in truth; she takes on a nearly unharnessable subject, contains it, and makes it resonate with honesty. Part love story, part coming of age, this is a tour de force by a gifted writer.

Now I didn''t believe a broken-down old unicorn could make wishes come true . . . not for a minute. But what if it could?

Mags has a lot to wish for—a nice house with a mama who isn''t tired out from work; a normal little sister; a brother who doesn''t mooch for food; and, once in a while, she''d like some new clothes for school. When her sister Hannie finds a stuffed unicorn, Mags''s wishes start to come true. She knows the unicorn can''t really be magic, but she won''t let anything ruin her newfound luck—even if it means telling her own sister to believe something that can''t possibly be true.

From Newbery media winner Karen Hesse comes an unforgettable story of an immigrant family''s journey to America. "America," the girl repeated. "What will you do there?"I was silent for a little time."I will do everything there," I answered.Rifka knows nothing about America when she flees from Russia with her family in 1919. But she dreams that in the new country she will at last be safe from the Russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the Jews. Throughout her journey, Rifka carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by Alexander Pushkin. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of letters to Tovah, the beloved cousin she has left behind.Strong-hearted and determined, Rifka must endure a great deal: humiliating examinations by doctors and soldiers, deadly typhus, separation from all she has ever known and loved, murderous storms at sea, detainment on Ellis Island--and is if this is not enough, the loss of her glorious golden hair.Based on a true story from the author''s family, Letters from Rifka presents a real-life heroine with an uncommon courage and unsinkable spirit.