Books with author Kathe Koja (author)

Some guys are bad newsSixteen-year-old Maggy's life consists of trying to be invisible at school, taking care of her alcoholic mother, and spending all the time she can at the Blue Mirror, a downtown café. She can lose herself there for hours with a cappuccino and her sketchbook, in which she creates a paper world she calls "The Blue Mirror." But everything changes when she meets Cole, a charismatic runaway. Maggy is intrigued by Cole's risky life on the streets and by the girls who follow him, childlike Jouly and strange Marianne. And when Cole says that he loves her, Maggy comes alive. As Maggy becomes more entwined with Cole and she looks at him with all her heart, she sees something far more dangerous than she may be capable of handling. In poetic and evocative language, Kathe Koja draws us into the haunting, passionate world of The Blue Mirror.

Rachel is happiest when she's volunteering at the animal shelter, especially after she meets the feral collie she names Grrl; they're both angry and alone. When a teacher encourages her to write about it, Rachel finds another outlet for her pain and frustration. But writing about Grrl is much easier than teaching Grrl to trust her. And when Griffin, the new boy in school, devises a plan to spring Grrl from the shelter and bring her home, Rachel finds that the dog isn't the only one who must learn to trust.

The kids at school call Jinsen “Buddha Boy”—he wears oversize tie-dyed dragon T- shirts, shaves his head, and always seems to be smiling. He’s clearly a freak. Then Justin is paired with him for a class project. As he gets to know Jinsen and his incredible artistic talent, Justin questions his own beliefs. But being friends with Buddha Boy isn’t simple, especially when Justin realizes that he’s going to have to take sides. What matters more: the high school social order or getting to know someone extraordinary?

A powerful debut novelA female collie mix, so beautiful, all gold and white and dirty; she’s in the last cage on the aisle, curled up quiet, watching everything – but when I get too close she goes completely crazy, biting at the bars, herself, anything in reach, until I back off and away. Her growl’s like ripping metal, jagged, dangerous, and strong . . . Don’t mess with me, that growl says. I may be in a cage but I can still bite.Rachel is happiest when she’s volunteering at the animal shelter, especially after she meets the feral collie she names Grrl: they’re both angry and alone. When a teacher encourages her to write about the dog, Rachel finds another outlet for her pain and frustration. Writing about Grrl is easy. But teaching Grrl to trust her is a much tougher task. And when Griffin, the new boy in school, devises a plan to bring Grrl home, Rachel finds that the dog isn’t the only one who must learn to trust. Kathe Koja offers a raw and emotional tale about a girl who risks breaking out of her own cage to find the help she needs.

Bram Stoker Award and Locus Award winner Kathe Koja draws us into a haunting, passionate world of danger and self-discoverySixteen-year-old Maggy's life consists of trying to be invisible at school, taking care of her alcoholic mother, and spending all the time she can at the Blue Mirror, a downtown café. She can lose herself there for hours with a cappuccino and her sketchbook, in which she creates a paper world she calls "The Blue Mirror." But everything changes when she meets Cole, a charismatic runaway. Maggy is intrigued by Cole's risky life on the streets and by the girls who follow him, childlike Jouly and strange Marianne. And when Cole says that he loves her, Maggy comes alive. As Maggy becomes more entwined with Cole and she looks at him with all her heart, she sees something far more dangerous than she may be capable of handling.* "Psychologically gripping."—Publishers Weekly, starred review"A richly embroidered tale of abuse and control highlighted with shiny threads of magic and redemption."—Kirkus Reviews

AN ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTSThe kids at Edward Rucher High School call Jinsen "Buddha Boy" - he wears oversize tie-dyed dragon t-shirts, shaves his head and always seems to be smiling. Jinsen certainly doesn't help matters when he starts begging for lunch money in the cafeteria. Then Justin is paired with him for a class project. All Justin wants to do is get it over with and go back to hanging out with his friends...until he discovers Jinsen's incredible artistic talent. And the more he gets to know Jinsen, the more Justin questions his own beliefs. But being friends with Buddha Boy isn't simple, especially when Justin realizes he's going to have to take sides. What matters more: the high school social order or getting to know someone extraordinary?Kathe Koja's classic novel of bullying introduces an unforgettable young man who reminds us of the true meaning of friendship and shows us how to draw strength from the little gods inside each of us."Koja accomplishes quite a feat with this novel...A compelling introduction to Buddhism and a credible portrait of how true friendship brings out the best in people." - Publishers Weekly, starred review"By combining the elements of art and the tenets of Buddhism, Koja takes readers past the stereotypes of the picked-on kid, the relenetless bully, and the rescuing friend...A compelling tale of friendship and finding one's own inner strength." - VOYA"Quickly paced, inviting, and eye-opening, this is a marvelous addition to YA literature."- School Library Journal

Two complete young adult novels by Kathe Koja, including Straydog, winner of the ASPCA's Henry Bergh Award and the Humane Societies KIND Children's Book Award, and the lush, dark fantasy, The Blue MirrorSTRAYDOGRachel is happiest when she's volunteering at the animal shelter, especially after she meets the feral collie she names Grrl; they're both angry and alone. When a teacher encourages her to write about it, Rachel finds another outlet for her pain and frustration. But writing about Grrl is much easier than teaching Grrl to trust her. And when Griffin, the new boy in school, devises a plan to spring Grrl from the shelter and bring her home, Rachel finds that the dog isn't the only one who must learn to trust."Compelling and sympathetic…Koja plumbs not only Rachel's dark and darkly funny psyche, but also what it means to be human and to make connections of love and trust." - Publishers Weekly"Rachel's emotional intensity, conveyed both in her fierce narrative and in long passages from her story, is compelling enough to draw readers along…Fans of tales about teen writers, or stories with animal themes, will pant after this." - Kirkus Reviews"The strong characters, rich detail, and well-articulated emotions, interspersed with Rachel's startling writing, make a powerful story that will resonate with many teens." - BooklistTHE BLUE MIRRORSixteen-year-old Maggy's life consists of trying to be invisible at school, taking care of her alcoholic mother, and spending all the time she can at the Blue Mirror, a downtown café. She can lose herself there for hours with a cappuccino and her sketchbook, in which she creates a paper world she calls "The Blue Mirror." But everything changes when she meets Cole, a charismatic runaway. Maggy is intrigued by Cole's risky life on the streets and by the girls who follow him, childlike Jouly and strange Marianne. And when Cole says that he loves her, Maggy comes alive. As Maggy becomes more entwined with Cole and she looks at him with all her heart, she sees something far more dangerous than she may be capable of handling. * "Psychologically gripping . . . Teems with characters that possess the same kind of edgy, dangerous magic as Francesca Lia Block's creations, and, like Block, Koja explores the confusion between infatuation and real love-in all its cruelty and its redemptive powers." - Publishers Weekly, starred review"A richly embroidered tale of abuse and control highlighted with shiny threads of magic and redemption." - Kirkus Reviews"Fans of…outsider themes will appreciate the gritty urban scenes and rhythmic language that give the book an almost surreal ambience." - School Library Journal"Koja writes with great artistry-her words sometimes work as brushes creating paintings; her prose is close to poetry . . . This is a brief and powerful story." - KLIATT

Two young adult novels by award-winner Kathe Koja.TALKKit Webster is hiding a secret. Carma, his best friend, has already figured it out, and pushes him to audition for the high school play, Talk. When he's cast as the male lead, he expects to escape his own life for a while and become a different person. What he gets instead is the role of a lifetime: Kit Webster. In the play, Kit's thrown together with Lindsay Walsh, the female lead and the school's teen queen. Lindsay, tired of the shallow and selfish boys from her usual circle of friends, sees something real in Kit - and wants it. But Kit's attention is focused on Pablo, another boy in school. The play is controversial; the parents put pressure on the school to shut it down. And when Kit and Lindsay rally to save Talk, they find themselves deep into a battle for the truth: onstage, and inside themselves.“The novel...flows in a poetic stream-of-consciousness style. Kit's own questions of identity and truth lead to a dramatic conclusion--both on- and offstage--as he finally discovers who he is.” ― The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review“What Koja, who deftly handles several points of view...does so well is to let the reader clearly see her characters' imperfections, while never losing sight of their essential humanity.” ― Kirkus Reviews“Life- and self-affirming.” ― Booklist“A richly satisfying story. Layers of friendships, wounds, yearnings, and secrets are expertly interwoven to create this daring novel. Wholly engaging.” ― VOYAGOING UNDERHilly and her brother, Ivan, have been homeschooled by their parents. All their lives it has been just the two of them – Ivan and Hilly, brother and sister, pilot and copilot. Until Hilly breaks out of their cozy cocoon to work on the local high school literary magazine as an extracurricular activity. Ivan feels betrayed: it's no longer just the two of them. And when Hilly goes into a depression after the suicide of a friend she has made at the magazine, she drifts even further away from Ivan. Hilly's parents insist that she see a psychotherapist. Ivan steps in to help manage Hilly's recovery by taking her to and from her appointments but compounds the betrayal by establishing his own relationship with the manipulative therapist.Through the alternating voices of Hilly and Ivan, and drawing on the myths of Persephone and Narcissus, Kathe Koja explores the souls of two teenagers caught in a world where love takes you deeper than you ever dreamed you'd go."Intricate."--VOYA"Koja has once again created a rich psychological drama whose characters will not be easily forgotten." ― The Horn Book"This harrowing, intense tale has a vividly drawn cast." ― Booklist"Well executed in its setup, in its foreboding aura, and in the feel of each person's voice." ― School Library Journal"Striking" ― Publishers Weekly

Two complete young adults novels from Kathe Koja.KISSING THE BEESenior year is flying by, the prom is approaching, and Dana, her best friend, Avra, and Avra's boyfriend, Emil, are about to encounter the pains and pleasures of that intricate beehive called adult life. While Dana plans on college, Avra plots escape once school is over―and plans to take Emil along for the ride. What does Emil want? He's not saying. Dana studies bees for a biology project, fascinated by their habits and their mythological imagery – but in real life, emotions can sting, and while two's company, these three may just become a crowd. As Dana reminds us, in every hive there is only one queen bee.A 2008 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year“Poetic, realistic, and filled with memorable characters, this spare novel captures first love’s exquisite, earth-shattering joy and the struggle and thrill that comes with claiming one’s own life.”―STARRED/Booklist“Koja incorporates facts and folklore about bees as a metaphor in this spare and haunting novel…Her understated, tightly focused language evokes vivid scenes and heady emotions…each line of dialogue, each interaction illuminating struggles that readers face as well.”―STARRED/Publishers Weekly“Koja takes the typical teen love triangle and spins it into a layered, intricate, emotional read. This story is thick like honey, humming with beautiful imagery and dialogue. The characters are multifaceted and interesting…A short but rich psychological exploration of the intense complexities of friendship and love in the teen world.”―School Library Journal“Teens who have suffered their own stings will appreciate Koja's honest and hopeful rendering.” ―Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books“A beautiful novel about relationships.” ―Publishers Weekly, ShelfTalker“Readers will find it hard to pry themselves away from this brilliantly written story...A must read for young romantics.” ―IRAHEADLONGThe Vaughn School. Home of domed ceilings, gleaming checkerboard floors, and the Vaughn Virgins: the upper stratum of girls who have perfect grades, perfect lives, and perfect friends. Lily Noble is a lifer – she knows all the rules. Then sophomore year, Hazel Tobias arrives as a scholarship student, with her model’s looks and unconventional family, and shows Lily everything she’s been missing. Can you ever fit in someplace you don’t want to be? As Lily befriends Hazel, both girls discover what it means to dive deep beneath the surface – of friendship, of commitment – and to live life with all their hearts, with all they are, headlong.“The book takes place at an élite prep school, a haven for the children of the rich, but there the similarity to Gossip Girl ends; Headlong is a closely observed tale of a privileged girl beginning to perceive the constraints of her background, who channels her restlessness into a friendship with an emotionally elusive free spirit.” —The New Yorker's Book Bench Blog“Besides reliably recreating the dynamics of teen-girl friendship, Koja relays this story with her usual insight and, through her lightning-fast characterizations, an ability to project multiple perspectives simultaneously.” —STARRED/Publishers Weekly“This lovely story portrays friendship—what it is and what it is not. Many teen girls will wish themselves into this book.” —VOYA “Koja is one of the treasures of fiction, and of young adult fiction especially.” —Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother, on boingboing.net“An engaging, haunting novel.” —Kliatt“Anyone who has had to make a tough, possibly life-altering decision can relate to Lily’s character and the pressure she feels from the people around her.” —ALAN’s Online Picks“Koja creates compelling, nuanced characters.” —Kirkus Reviews

A powerful drama about self-acceptance Kit Webster is hiding a secret. Carma, his best friend, has already figured it out, and pushes him to audition for the high school play, Talk. When he's cast as the male lead, he expects to escape his own life for a while and become a different person. What he gets instead is the role of a lifetime: Kit Webster. In the play, Kit's thrown together with Lindsay Walsh, the female lead and the school's teen queen. Lindsay, tired of the shallow and selfish boys from her usual circle of friends, sees something real in Kit - and wants it. But Kit's attention is focused on Pablo, another boy in school. The play is controversial; the parents put pressure on the school to shut it down. And when Kit and Lindsay rally to save Talk, they find themselves deep into a battle for the truth: onstage, and inside themselves. As in her other books, Ms. Koja's "long stream-of-consciousness sentences with creative (but recognizable) spelling and clever use of italics will enchant readers" (Booklist).

How to survive being goodLike a flashback memory, he’s there in my mind: skimming up the stairs at school, his sloppy old T-shirt big as a sail, red tie-dyed dragon T-shirt, who wears stuff like that? No one. Jinsen.The kids at Edward Rucher High School call Jinsen “Buddha Boy” and condemn him as a freak. With his shaved head and perpetual smile, Jinsen certainly doesn’t help matters when he starts begging for lunch money in the cafeteria. So when Justin is paired with Jinsen for a class project, he plans to get done with it as soon as possible, and climb right back into his safe social niche. Then Justin discovers Jinsen’s incredible artistic talent and becomes curious about his beliefs. But being friends with Buddha Boy isn’t simple, and Justin is forced into a cruel contest with the jocks who just can’t seem to leave Jinsen, or his artwork, alone. Kathe Koja introduces an unforgettable young man who will remind readers of the true meaning of friendship and demonstrate how to draw strength from the little gods inside each of them.