Five Stars for "Anna Mei!"

It's been about six weeks since Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl was released by Pauline Kids, an imprint of Pauline Books & Media. The response has been wonderful so far--traffic to my website is way up, with people checking in from New York to California (sounds like a folk song, doesn't it?)

The story seems to be striking a chord with adults and kids alike. A twelve year-old girl wrote to say "I loved your book!", and the mother of an adopted daughter expressed her appreciation for a story that "may open up conversations that are often difficult to begin. As the population of young girls adopted from China matures, it's nice to have a book out that deals with some of the issues they face having dark hair, dark eyes in a sea of blond girls with blue eyes."

And how about this for a compliment: "I am impressed with the author's ability to get some very good, basic, value concepts across without being 'preachy.' I was toward the end of the book at breakfast and ended up being late for work"!

Over the past weeks I've learned that teachers are reading Anna Mei to their students. Adults are buying it for their kids or their nieces and nephews. Librarians have asked how to order it for their libraries. A few have even asked if I would consider talking to their students in person. It's so gratifying to know that people are embracing my little character and her story of identity lost and found.

A high point has been a review from the Midwest Book Review, a group that has been rating children's books since 1976. They recently gave Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl their highest rating:

5 out of 5 stars -A top pick for middle school fiction readers
Trying to fit in is the goal of any new kid, and some go to untold lengths. "Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl" tells the tale of Anna Mei who is trying to fit into her sixth grade class, as the child of an adoptive family. Fearing being an outcast, she manufactures herself a personality, only to find that reality will keep up with her and being herself is hard after trying not to for so long. "Anna Mei, Cartoon Girl" is a top pick for middle school fiction readers.

Another highlight has been seeing a series of pictures my son took in Chicago, where a PBM bookstore is featuring Anna Mei in its window and on its shelves. It's so much fun to see the characters come to life right there on Michigan Avenue!

Many, many thanks to all of you who have let me know that you enjoyed the book or are looking forward to reading it. I've gotten so many notes and phone calls offering congratulations and good wishes. Special thanks to those who have passed the book on to people in their lives who can share it with a wider audience. It doesn't help to be a writer when your feelings of gratitude are so completely, overwhelmingly... inexpressable!

Meanwhile, work on the sequel continues under the guidance of a new editor at PBM. I'm excited to see what she will bring to the project and hope people will be interested in the continuing story of Anna Mei. So if all goes well, I'll get to do this all over again next year!