New Release: Here Where The Sunbeams Are Green by Helen Phillips

Released on Nov. 13th
Advanced Readers Copy Provided by Netgalley

About The Book: Mad's dad is the Bird Guy. He'll go anywhere to study birds. So when he's offered a bird-tracking job in Central America, his bags are packed and he's jungle bound.
But going bird tracking in the jungle and disappearing completely are very different things, and when the Very Strange and Incredibly Creepy Letter arrives, Mad can't shake the terrible feeling that her father is in trouble.

Roo, Mad's younger sister, is convinced that the letter is a coded message. And their mom is worried, because the letter doesn't sound like Dad at all. But Mad is sure it's a sign of something sinister.

The only way to get to the bottom of it is to go to Lava Bird Volcano and find their dad themselves. Though they never could have imagined what they're about to discover.

From new talent Helen Phillips, Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green is the story of what can happen when two sisters make some unusual friends, trust in each other, and bravely face a jungle of trouble all to bring their family back together.
  
First Line: So here we are in the shaky little airplane above the jungle, which is kind of (very) scary.

Illustrators Are Often Elusive
 About Self Portraits

Illustrator: Jennifer Bricking
Website
Portfolio

Who: "I graduated from Ringling College of Art & Design wayyy back in 2004. I've worked as a Concept Artist for games and animation and as a Children's Book Illustrator for publishing companies like Harper Collins, Random House, and Simon & Schuster. I am currently working full time at Disney Interactive Studios in San Diego, CA. You can usually find me riding my bike around San Diego, skateboarding, and sometimes wandering around foreign countries; camera in one hand, sketchbook in the other. I love anything art, animation, technology and science related. Puppies and cupcakes, too."—Jennifer Bricking on her website.

One Great Line: That's what makes it such an awesome color—if you like the color, you gotta like the stick.

What Others Are Saying: "All middle grade readers will love the adventure. But sisters will love the story. A truly remarkable tale of survival against all odds fueled by the bonds between two young girls. Excuse me, one young girl. . . and one not-so-young girl." —Alamosa Books  Independent Book Store in Albuquerque

"More fantasy than magical realism, this eco-adventure maintains its mystery and suspense right up to the end." —Kirkus

What I Thought: From the first sentence I was whisked into and adventure that was fast moving, intense at times and yet full of humor. My kind of book. I love Mad's and Roo's relationship. Roo is everything I wish I could have been in middle grade, fearless, smart and funny. I identified, as I'm sure others will, to Mad's angst and desire to stay out of the way, avoiding any attention toward herself. When Mad has the first stirrings of attraction for Golden-Eyed Boy, the nervousness and new feelings are believable and age appropriate. This is one of those books that you want to keep reading because something happens on every single page. A great read with lots of surprises. 

About The Author: 
Helen Phillips
Website

Who:  "Before I could read, I remember feeling very jealous whenever I saw my parents reading. They could add all those confusing letters up to something magical! It made me mad, and I tried to learn to read as quickly as possible so I wouldn’t have to be jealous anymore.

I knew I wanted to be a writer from the time I was able to write my first story at the age of six." —Helen Phillips [Read entire bio here.]

Book Trailer Created by her husband, Adam Phillips.