michelle schusterman.
author \ ghostwriter \ writing instructor
BOOKS
When a local -- and rare -- penguin population is threatened, it's up to a girl, a dog, and a penguin to protect the colony from danger.
Homeward Bound meets Finding Nemo in this heartfelt story about a brave sea otter and a rambunctious puppy who team up to find their way home.
The fourth book in a series about the misadventures of a middle school band geek, perfect for fans of Dork Diaries.
When a local -- and rare -- penguin population is threatened, it's up to a girl, a dog, and a penguin to protect the colony from danger.
IN THE PRESS
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"The beautifully creepy plot deftly weaves together old-time–y fears with fresh outlooks through richly realized characters who feel immediate and modern despite the 1952 setting. Especially well done is the approach to gender, as Chance, Penny, and Constance all struggle with different realities of embodiment and expression without resorting to cheap sentiment or heavy-handedness.
An excellent melding of horror and heart, this complex story will appeal to a wide range of readers."
Kirkus, starred review for SPELL & SPINDLE
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"In this entertaining and sometimes slapstick testament to the power of friendship, three teenage girls—each attending a different convention held in the same location—help each other overcome their respective conflicts. Working seamlessly in alternating POV chapters, Cherry, Ribar, and Schusterman deliver a laugh-out-loud romp that finds humor and drama in three very different fields of interest. As the story lines converge, readers will delight in seeing these passionate girls recognize that it’s okay to want things and to screw up, and that sometimes you make unexpected friends in the process."
Publishers Weekly, starred review for THE PROS OF CONS
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"Don’t be fooled by that cute cartoon cover: this is a true-blue ghost story. Richly drawn and occasionally melancholy, this is a ghost story with a timeless feel, featuring a city gone to seed, a decaying theater, and a family falling apart.
It's a haunting and ethereal tale in the vein of Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord. Nods to Edgar Allan Poe make it atmospheric, and Olive herself, a lonely heroine with ghosts in her past, give it soul."
Booklist, starred review for OLIVE AND THE BACKSTAGE GHOST
BIO
Michelle is the author of over a dozen critically acclaimed novels for middle grade and young adult readers. Her books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and Publisher's Weekly and have received honors including multiple Junior Library Guild selections, the CBCC Best of 2019 List, ALA's Rainbow List and Quick Picks for Reluctant
Readers List, and the NC State College of Education Comic Relief Reading List. After thirteen years of moving from Salvador to Seoul to Seattle to New York City, Michelle is currently back in her hometown of Dallas with her husband, Josh, and their polar bear disguised as a lab puppy, Rosa.
Visits & Workshops
Since 2014, Michelle has taught over one thousand students and led hundreds of creative writing workshops with Writopia Lab, Writing Workshops Dallas and Lawson Writers Academy.
She is currently organizing a free virtual book club tour for elementary and middle school students beginning 2021. Download the virtual tour flyer for more details.
For more information on presentations and pricing, download this PDF or email her at mischubooks@gmail.com.
CONTACT
Please note that I don't do book reviews. If you're reaching out about a manuscript critique or similar editorial/coaching services, please check out my book coach packages!
*I am currently not available for ghostwriting projects.*
Email: mischubooks@gmail.com
For foreign and film rights inquiries, please contact Greenhouse Literary Agency.
USA: 1 571 758 5615 | UK: (+44) 20 7841 3958
