by Lori DeBoer
One of the joys of working as a developmental editor and writing coach is being a small part of somebody’s success. And, it seems like I work with so many talented and hard-working folks, that success comes often. It certainly does for Judith Robbins Rose, whose new novel, Look Both Ways In The Barrio Blanco, which has been nominated by the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association for a 2015 Reading the West Award. The award is given by the association each year to promote exceptional authors whose books exemplify the best writing and/or illustration the region has to offer.
This isn’t the first recognition that Judy’s received for her writing and it certainly, in my opinion, won’t be the last. She has been lauded in the book publishing world for her sensitive and authentic handling of the world of a child of undocumented Mexican immigrants.
As Jennifer Wills Geraedts noted in Publishers Weekly: “I found myself laughing at some moments and at other moments longing to reach through the pages and hold Jacinta tight. The beauty of this book is the accessibility to middle grade readers (though I encourage anyone to read it!). Author Judith Robbins Rose tackles some very real, hot-button issues in this book without it feeling like it’s an “issues book.” The narration is charming, Jacinta is funny, and there’s so much depth to this book.”
Look Both Ways in the Barrio Blanco was published in September 2015 by Candlewick Press and has garnered the following awards and accolades:
-2015 New Voices, American Booksellers Association
-2015 INK Best Children’s Novel
-2015 INK Writer of the Year
-2015 ABC Best Books for Young Readers
-2015 Best Children’s Books, Iowa National Public Radio
You can find Judy’s book at your local bookstore. For more information about her upcoming appearances, please visit her website at www.jrrose.net.
