Lisa Sukenic Presents: Miles From Motown

3019 Oakland Drive,Kalamazoo MI 49008

14 June, 2022

Description

Join author Lisa Sukenic for a reading, discussion, and book signing of "Miles From Motown" Book Description: Twelve-year-old Georgia Johnson is sure she can win the “Spirit of Detroit Poetry Contest,” judged by her idol, Gwendolyn Brooks. After moving from her beloved Detroit neighborhood to an unfamiliar suburb on the outskirts of the city, Georgia lies to prevent becoming disqualified from the contest (which is for Detroit residents only) by using her aunt Birdie’s address. With her older brother deployed to Vietnam, and her family worried about when—or if—he’ll make it home, Georgia tries to settle into her new life. But she misses the old—her friend Ceci, the cracks in the sidewalk that used to catch her skates, the hide-and-seek tree, and the deli on the corner. She wonders if she’ll ever make new friends or feel like she belongs. To make matters worse, she must also find a way to intercept the contest finalist announcement that will be mailed to Aunt Birdie’s mailbox before her family uncovers her deception. During that summer, Georgia discovers her own resiliency in the face of upheaval and the power of truth when lies ring hollow. Miles From Motown has been recognized as a 2022 Michigan Notable Book. Signed copies of Miles From Motown available here. About the Author: Born in Detroit, Lisa Sukenic, grew up just one mile beyond the city limits. Her earliest memories include mom reading Ogden Nash or e.e cummings while dad sang off key, usually musical jingles like “King of the Road” a particular playlist favorite. Picking up a pencil at the age of two, Lisa wrote a language of her own creation. She began keeping diaries by age seven. Although her family owned few books, they spent hours at the library. Life included straightening her hair with soup cans, Go Go Boots, and the Vietnam war on the TV news. Writing in school was surprisingly mostly unmemorable, except a high school research paper that she wrote on the shooting at Kent State. William James College surrounded her with a community of writers, artists, musicians, environmentalists and activists. Here she read Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, Annie Dillard, and Frances Moore Lape. She received her a degree in Modern Dance and Urban and Environmental and Studies. In the company of accomplished poets and writers, Lisa wrote poetry, stories, and essays focused on feminism, family and the natural world. Her first poem appeared in the college publication. She earned a Masters in teaching, landing her first job at a small progressive school in Kalamazoo. After seventeen years, in 2003, she moved to Chicago, to teach at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools where she has taught for the last sixteen years. She brought the Global Reading Challenge to Lab and spends the summer reading multicultural literature and selecting books for the next year. Her students write and publish their own novels in a year, and celebrate with a book release reading at a local Chicago bookstore. She received the Mary V. Williams Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2008. In 2009, Lisa received her poetry certificate from the University of Chicago Graham School. She was accepted to A Room of Her Own Writer’s retreat at the Georgia O’Keefe Ranch, Abiqui, New Mexico, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015. She participated twice in the VCFA Writing Children and Young Adults workshops. Lisa’s an active member of The Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators. Her middle grade novel Miles from Motown, received notable recognition-asa finalist in the Many Voices Manuscript Contest, and for the Laura Crawford Memorial Scholarship in 2016. Miles from Motown, won the SCBWI-IL Prairie Writer’s Day manuscript contest, 2016.