International
Japanese Honors
Having my work published and celebrated in Japan has been an unexpected and extraordinary development in my writing life.
In 2019, the Japanese edition of Sidetracked was selected by the Japanese School Library Association as one of three recommended middle school level books for the 2019 Youth Book Report National Competition. Every year, students throughout Japan are encouraged to submit a book report to the contest. The student authors of top essays from each district are celebrated at a beautiful ceremony in Tokyo. It was my great honor to be a guest at the ceremony on February 7, 2020, and meet two of the students who won awards for their essays about Sidetracked.
That trip seemed like a once in a lifetime experience, so it came as thrilling news when Upstaged was announced as a middle school selection for the 2023 competition.
Once again, my husband and I were guests at the ceremony in Tokyo, giving me a chance to spend time with the incredible students who won honors for their Upstaged essays, and reunite with my Japanese friends.
In May, 2026, a return trip to Japan coincided with the annual Ueno no Mori Parent-Child Book Festival in Ueno Park, Tokyo. The festival is held every year during Japan’s “Golden Week” and attracts more than 30,000 visitors.
I was delighted to accept an invitation from Hyoronsha Publishers to join translator Hiroko Taketomi in signing copies of Sidetracked and Upstaged. It was wonderful to meet young readers and their parents and chat with Hiroko and incoming editor Chizuko Kita about Hyoronsha’s upcoming publication of Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz.
Sidetracked, Upstaged and soon Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz are published in Japan by Hyoronsha and translated by Hiroko Taketomi. I’m so grateful to them, to retiring editor Chihomi Okamoto, to foreign rights agent Maiko Fujinaga, and to the Japanese School Library Association, for bringing my stories to young Japanese readers!
For foreign rights inquiries concerning Sidetracked and Upstaged, please contact Yulia Borodyanskaya, yborodyanskaya@abramsbooks.com.
Gallery
Copies of SIDETRACKED and UPSTAGED at the Festival
Hyoronsha’s publicist with translator Hiroko Taketomi
In Hyoronsha’s booth, with Hiroko and editor Chizuko Kita and retiring editor Chihomi Okamoto
Tea after the festival, with Chizuko and Chihomi, Hiroko, Foreign Rights agent May Fujinaga, and EVIE!
Name tag and Program for the 69th Youth Reading Report National Competition Award Ceremony, February 2, 2024
Warm greetings at the ceremony.
Chatting with award winner, Aiko.
Meeting award winner, Haruki, with Maiko of Japan UNI Agency
Aiko, Haruki, Hiroko and me.
Tea and cake with Hiroko, Chihomi and Maiko
The Japanese edition of Sidetracked
Out for sushi with Sidetracked’s Japanese publisher, translator, editor and literary agent, (and husband, Henry), in Tokyo, Japan!
My nametag and program. Honored to attend the 65th National Youth Book Report Contest in Tokyo, where Sidetracked was one of three books recommended for Junior High Students by the Japanese School Library Association.
At the reception with translator, Hiroko Taketomi and two students, Naoki and Sora, who won awards for their essays on Sidetracked.
Haruto, another proud award winner and Sidetracked fan.
International Editions
Japanese Edition of Upstaged
Korean Edition of Sidetracked
Japanese Edition of Sidetracked
