Deadwood Reviews and Honors
Finalist for 2015 Crystal Kites Awards, Atlantic Division, voted by SCBWI members
Silver medal in 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards for preteen mystery
Shortlist finalist for the 2013 Green Earth Book Awards for children’s fiction, given by the Nature Generation to books encouraging stewardship of the natural world
“…the story is fun and engaging, and the characters have enough depth to make them interesting … budding tree huggers will love the sweet bond that forms between the kids and this unusual personification of Mother Nature.” —School Library Journal (SLJ)
“Danger lurks around every corner, but these two strong characters — both of them sporty and clever, with diverse backgrounds — can hold their own. Short chapters amp up the pace and hold attention, bolstering the story’s wild suspense.” —Foreword Magazine
“…a spectacularly fun middle grade novel about a strange tree on the outskirts of town.” —Chris Urie, Geekadelphia.com
“A magical debut. Fast-paced, fun, and suspenseful, Deadwood will be adored by kids who love a little fantasy with their mystery.” —Nikki Loftin, author of The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy and Nightingale’s Nest
“… suspenseful and fast-paced ecological plot.” —Mike Weilbacher, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Main Line Times
“Deadwood blends supernatural elements with an ecological message and some pretty typical middle school issues that most readers will identify with, like not being totally sure of who you are and how you fit in with the world around you … A fun book with just enough creepiness to be exciting.” —Amanda Valentine, Reads4Tweens
“…fabulous debut—well written, entertaining, thought-provoking and original!“ —Cindy Pon, author of Silver Phoenix, founder of Diversity in YA, Enchanted Inkpot
“A nice mix of heart and humor. … Give this one to middle grade readers who enjoy magical realism, or to anyone for whom the idea of talking with an ancient, enormous tree is irresistible.” —Jen Robinson, Jen’s Book Page
“A fast-paced, enjoyable, contemporary fantasy that upper middle graders will truly enjoy … The perfect blend of relatable contemporary, supernatural elements, mystery and environmental awareness — an amazing middle grade book for all ages to read!” —Bumbles and Fairy Tales
“I totally enjoyed Deadwood from cover to cover. As one person who truly believes that people communicate with trees and vice versa, I got a real kick out of the concept that the beech tree used carved graffiti letters to ‘message’ its ambassadors! I also appreciated the biology lessons embedded in the story.” —Barley Van Clief, Tree Tenders Program, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
“The use of magic mixed with technology was interesting, as the spirit tree used text messages to communicate with the children. I also enjoyed when the focus of the story went to the tree, telling part of the story from it’s perspective… I highly recommend this book. It’s a wonderful read for middle graders” —Platypire Reviews