Alexandra Villasante has always loved telling stories--though not
always with words. She has a BFA in Painting and an MA in Combined
Media (that's art school speak for making work out of anything).
Born in New Jersey to immigrant parents, Alex has the privilegio of
dreaming in both English and Spanish.
When she's not writing, painting or chasing chickens around the
yard, Alex plans conferences and fundraisers for non-profits. She
lives with her family in the semi-wilds of Pennsylvania. You can
find Alexandra on twitter and Instagram at @magpiewrites or on her
website, alexandravillasante.com.
Praise for The Grief Keeper:
Summer 2019 Kids’ Indie Next List Pick
Summer/Fall 2019 Indies Introduce Kids’ Debuts List
Pick
A 2020 Rainbow Book List Pick – Young Adult
A 2020 Lambda Award Winner – Young Adult
A 2022-2023 Land of Enchantment Book Award Nominee (NM)
“Hauntingly beautiful.” —School Library Journal
“Villasante writes of first love with an authentic voice,
beautifully capturing its nervousness, excitement, and awe. . . A
story worth reading.” —Booklist
“In her debut, Villasante captures the pressures of internalized
racism in immigrants...Will grip readers and provoke empathy.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Villasante’s novel is for the reader who wants to get down and
dirty with the emotional landscape, who wants a romance that is
hard-earned and sweetly won. The Grief Keeper...[creates] a
realistic yet still hopeful world seen through the gaze of an
intelligent, curious protagonist.” —Shelf Awareness
“[An] engrossing debut. . . Villasante builds her novel about
undocumented immigrants into a suspenseful story with credible
relationships, satisfying character development, and elements of
science fiction.” —Publisher’s Weekly
“Villasante tackles some interesting issues, especially about power
and privilege, in this sci-fi touched tale of contemporary realism.
. . the compelling issues and main character will keep readers
absorbed and give them plenty to discuss.” —Bulletin of the Center
for Children’s Books
“With both timeless poignancy and heartbreaking relevance, The
Grief Keeper is a stunning exploration of how we love, how pain
lives in us, and how we survive. Alexandra Villasante’s gift for
writing the deepest emotional truths resonates through every
page.” —Anna-Marie McLemore, author of Wild Beauty and Blanca
& Roja
Ask a Question About this Product More... |