• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

German-American Louise Kessler, fourteen, starts a scrapbook when her best friend, Dottie Masuoka, leaves for the Japanese internment camps. Louise’s scrapbook includes items from her life “on the home front” as well as Dottie’s letters and drawings from the internment camp. Together, their intertwined stories tell of a friendship that even war cannot tear apart.

Beverly Patt writes from her suburban Chicago home, which she shares with her high school sweetheart husband, four wonderful kids and faithful dog, Hally. Before becoming a writer, Bev worked as a Sick-Bird-Catcher, Waitress, Licorice Inspector, Family Counselor and Special Education teacher. HAVEN is her first novel. Close on it's heels is Best Friends Forever: A WW II SCRAPBOOK (Marshall Cavendish).
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER: A WWII SCRAPBOOK received a starred review from SLJ and has been named to the Great Lakes, Great Books Spring 2010 List.

Beverly Patt's profile page

Shula Klinger was born in St. Albans, England. Her poetry, journalism, and creative non-fiction have been published in the UK, the US, and Canada. She holds an undergraduate degree in English from Oxford University and a Masters in Educational Technology from Cambridge. Before moving to Canada, Shula worked in children’s book publishing and for a multimedia division of the BBC. Since completing her Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, Shula has mentored teachers and developed online course materials for schools in British Columbia. While working for the Vancouver School Board, she also created and moderated The Attic, an online community for students who love reading and writing. She now works as a consultant in online education for schools throughout the province. She is also the developer and moderator of Wordspace, an online domain for young writers. The Kingdom Of Strange is her first novel. You can visit her online at: www.shulaklinger.com

Shula Klinger's profile page

“The girls’ moving stories should inspire readers to learn more about the history of internment.” —Publishers Weekly

“Because this novel is written in the form of letters, artwork, and clippings for a scrapbook, readers will be in for a real treat with what feels like a firsthand perspective.” —VOYA

”This heartwarming tale of steadfast friendship makes a wonderful access point for learning more about World War II and Japanese internment.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

“Their account of wartime terror is made more poignant by their resolution to make their lives beautiful and meaningful. The faux-diary format is sure to appeal.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Patriotism is an underlying theme, and readers will be drawn into the continuing debate about what makes a ‘real’ American.” —Booklist