Name: Margie Gelbwasser
Biographical Information: Margie Gelbwasser was born in the former Soviet Union but spent most of her life in New Jersey. Her essays about growing up Russian and Jewish have appeared in Waking Up American: Coming of Age BiCulturally; Lilith Magazine and SMITH Magazine. Her debut YA novel, Inconvenient, (November 2010, Flux) tackles Russian-Jewish themes, too. When not writing, Margie loves being a mom to her three year old boy, hiking, cooking and watching bad television. She, her husband, son and two licky kitties – Henry and Amelia – live in the awesome suburbs of New Jersey. Her next YA novel, Pieces of Us, will be published by Flux in March 2012.
Featured Book: Inconvenient. In fifteen-year old Alyssa Bondar’s Russian-Jewish culture, having a few drinks is as traditional as blinchiki and piroshki. So when her mom’s midday cocktails turn into an all-day happy hour, it seems like Alyssa’s the only one who notices, or cares. Her dad is steeped in the nightly news – and in denial – and her best friend Lana is too busy trashing their shared Russian heritage so that she can be popular. Alyssa would rather focus on cross-country meets and her first kiss with her running partner, Keith, but someone has to clean up her mom’s mess. But who will be there to catch Alyssa when her mom’s next fall off the wagon threatens to drag her down, too?
Age Group of Materials published: Teen
Honors:
Named a 2011 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries.