Name:
Ann Haywood Leal
Biographical Information: Ann Haywood Leal comes from a long line of musicians, artists, and teachers. Since she’s never been able to carry a tune, she was always given plenty of writing supplies and allowed to use the sharp scissors. Eventually, she put those writing supplies to good use and wrote her first novel, Also Known as Harper. Ann is an elementary teacher and lives in Connecticut with her husband, Andy, her daughter Holly, and her cat, Pepper, and is a train and a subway ride away from her daughter Jessica.
Featured Book: A Finders-Keepers Place. Esther Page has been trying to keep things together for as long as she can remember. Valley –that’s her mama—has always gotten funny notions like gardening indoors and living as the Amish do, without any electricity. And Esther has always cleaned up after those notions and watched out for her little sister, Ruth. But Valley’s are getting wilder, and too many people are asking questions about what is going on at home. It seems to Esther that the only person who can help is Ezekiel– the father she can barely remember. Ezekiel was a preacher, that much is certain, so Esther takes Ruth on a search through all the churches in town. Somebody, somewhere, must know about Ezekiel…
Other Titles: Also Known as Harper.
Age Group of Materials published: Pre-teen.
Honors: Also Known as Harper was chosen by the Chicago Public Library for their 2010 Best of the Best list and as one of the 2010 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year. It was also a Good Morning America Summer Reading pick and on the IndieBound Top Ten Indie Next Kids’ List for Summer 2009.