Audrey Colbourn '25 and friends had been waiting a long time for this, and on Tues., Jan. 15, it finally happened: they got to digitally meet and talk to one of their favorite authors, Shannon Messenger, writer of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
She remembers early last year when she first discovered the books. A friend from out of town introduced them to her, and before long, she and all her Holton friends were "completely caught up in that world."
"We talked about it nonstop," Audrey says. "We kind of had our own informal club at school."
The books follow protagonist Sophie Foster, a 12-year-old with special powers who doesn't quite fit in—until she makes some new friends who help her discover a hidden world that needs her help.
"It's this really engrossing world-building, and the characters and relationship development really draw you in," says Lower School librarian Evelyn Schwartz. "The kids get very invested in it. It's this magical world that feels like theirs."
"Some people have a comfort food; I have a comfort book," says Audrey. "Everything is written in such detail it feels just like you're there."
Last year, Mrs. Schwartz began to notice copies of the books flying off the shelves. Since the library hosts one or more author talks each year, she reached out to the writer, Shannon Messenger, to see if she might be available to visit school near the release of the latest book in the series. The author was receptive but not available, so the school hosted a book release party for Keeper of the Lost Cities: Flashback when it debuted this November, minus Ms. Messenger.
Then, Mrs. Schwartz got the exciting news that the author could digitally meet with students in January, which seemed even better, since it would give students time to read the book first and ask more targeted questions.
The big day arrived soon after students returned from Winter Break. Author talk attendees showed their enthusiasm by preparing themed snacks, special-power buttons, and signs, and each had a opportunity to ask the author questions.
"It was amazing," Audrey says. "Out of all the places she could be, she was talking to us and answering our questions."
Mrs. Schwartz is thrilled with how the event went as well. "I think one of the most important things the students get out of author talks is knowing that writing a book or going after other dreams is doable. One student asked Shannon if she'd ever been rejected, and she said that the first book didn't get accepted until draft 18, and it went through two rounds of edits after that. It's such a great message for the girls to hear—how she kept pursuing her dreams and didn't give up."
For the enthusiastic crowd, says Mrs. Schwartz, the event was also a time for fans and readers to "come together and see that they're part of a community. Reading is social, and so many kids get into books because of their friends are talking about them. It's incredible how that love of books is multiplied, how the more you talk about what you're reading, the more other people become interested in what you care about, too."
Previous author talk guests have included Reshma Saujani, writer of Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World. Please be on the lookout for announcements about future events.
