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Wendelin Van Draanen's Summer Reading List
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Wendelin Van Draanen Books have always been a part of Wendelin Van Draanen's life. Her mother taught her to read at an early age, and she has fond memories of story time with her father, when she and her brothers would cuddle up around him and listen to him read stories. Growing up, Van Draanen was a tomboy who loved to be outside chasing down adventure. She did not decide that she wanted to be an author until she was an adult. When she tried her hand at writing a screenplay about a family tragedy, she found the process quite cathartic and from that experience, turned to writing novels for adults. She soon stumbled upon the joys of writing for children. Feedback from her readers is Van Draanen's greatest reward for writing. "One girl came up to me and told me I changed her life. It doesn't get any better than that," she said. Van Draanen hopes to leave her readers with a sense that they have the ability to steer their own destiny-that individuality is a strength, and that where there's a will, there's most certainly a way. Wendelin Van Draanen lives with her husband and two sons in California. She is the winner of the 1999 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children's Mystery Book for SAMMY KEYES AND THE HOTEL THIEF.
There are so many books! So little time! Anyway, here's a list of 5 titles.
 TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
by Harper Lee
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0446310786
281 pages
 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LARRY
by Janet Tashjian
Henry Holt
ISBN: 0805063781
192 pages
 I RODE A HORSE OF MILK WHITE JADE
by Diane Lee Wilson
HarperTrophy
ISBN: 006440773X
Ages 10-14
304 pages
 THE TROLLS
by Polly Horvath
Sunburst
ISBN: 0374479917
Ages 8-12
144 pages
 HOPE WAS HERE
by Joan Bauer
Putnam
ISBN: 0399231420
Ages 12-17
186 pages
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