Name: Nina Nelson
Biographical Information: Nina Nelson is an award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction. Her debut novel, Bringing the Boy Home, won the HarperCollins Ursula Nordstrom Fiction Contest, was listed as one of Smithsonian Magazine’s “Notable Children’s Books,” was nominated for the 2010/2011 Mark Twain Award, the 2010/2011 Georgia Reading Awards and also Japan’s Sakura Awards.
Nina grew up in Missouri but has traveled all over the world where she likes to try new food, walk around local neighborhoods and visit all their second-hand clothing shops. She currently lives in Fairfield, CT and is working on revising her next book, a young adult novel titled Greener Pastures. You can learn more about Nina at ninanelsonbooks.com.
Featured Book: Bringing the Boy Home. Tirio was cast out of the Takunami tribe at a very young age because of his disabled foot. But an American woman named Sara adopted him, and his life has only gotten better since. Now, as his thirteenth birthday approaches, things are nearly perfect. So why is he having visions and hearing voices calling him back to the Amazon?
Luka has spent his whole life preparing for his soche seche tente, a sixth-sense test all Takunami boys must endure just before their thirteenth birthday. His family’s future depends on whether or not he passes this perilous test. His mother has dedicated herself to making sure that no aspect of his training is overlooked . . . but fate has a way of disturbing even the most carefully laid plans.
Two young boys. An unforgiving jungle. One shared destiny.
Age Group of Materials published: Pre-teen
Honors:
Ursula Nordstrom Fiction Award
Smithsonian Magazine Notable Children’s Book
2010/2011 Mark Twain Award
2010/2011 Georgia Reading Award Nominee
Sakura Award Nominee in Japan
Tassy Walden New Voices in Children’s Literature Award