I've just read two new books whose authors have ties to Illinois. In "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix, adopted Jonah and his best bud Chip receive mysterious envelopes in the mail. Opening them up, they find a plain white card that says "They are coming for you." Chip snoops around and finds out his parents have not been honest with him and that Chip was also adopted. Mix in a freaky black jet full of infants and you have an awesome tale of suspense and time travel. Haddix's tie to Illinois? She used to be a professor at a college near Danville in central Illinois. In Andrea Beatty's "Cicada Summer", silent Lily lives unnoticed in her small rural town during the Depression. Her brother has died and Lily has not spoken since that day, preferring to let the town folk think she is brain damaged. She "borrows" books from the school library and hides to read them. One day Tinny moves in with her aunt Fern and begins to torment Lily. But Lily has noticed Tinny stealing food and money from her aunt. What is Tinny up to? And who is the repairman who wears shiny city shoes in the country? This book of historical fiction comes to an exciting end and I know you'll all enjoy it! Did you know that the author, Andrea Beaty, lives in a suburb of Chicago? Wonder if it's Homewood? Here are a few other authors from Illinois that you might want to explore: Jim Aylesworth, Blue Balliett, Candace Fleming, Arthur Geisert, Michael Hays, Laurie Lawlor, Tom Lichtenheld, Kevin Luthardt, Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, Bob Raczka, Laura Ruby, Natasha Tarpley, and Amy Timberlake.
