Join us for one of the most exciting book-themed events in the city: THE PHILLY BOOK CRAWL!!!
This year, we’re supremely thankful to welcome Translator Emily Hunsberger to celebrate the release of Wonderland: Crónicas of Belonging in América, a project she worked on with author Melanie Márquez Adams. Wonderland is a narrative of Melanie’s unique experience as an immigrant along with insightful observations of America/América, written with understanding, empathy, and a sense of humor. Hunsberger will be joined by Elle Charisse, host of the Speaking Tongues podcast. The two will be discussing the process of getting this book out into the world.
Additionally, we will be hosting local Middle-Grade author Cordelia Jensen, whose newest novel-in-verse, Lilac and the Switchback, will be available for signing. Lilac tells the story of the titular character. who learns of her aunts is pregnant with twins, due soon after Lilac turns thirteen. How could they possibly want her around when they'll have two more kids in their crowded home? As she struggles to process her feelings about the pregnancy, Lilac drifts apart from her best friend Callie, leaving Lilac lonelier than ever.
Each of our guests will be spending time hanging out and meeting readers, so be sure to stop by and learn about their incredible stories!
Emily Hunsberger is a translator, writer, editor, audio storyteller, and communications generalist with experience in the fields of education, international civil society, community-based work in the US, immigrant rights, adult literacy, art, film, literature, and podcasting, among others. English, Spanish, and Portuguese are my first, second, and third languages, respectively. She lives with her family in Philadelphia.
Elle Charisse is the host, creator & producer of the Speaking Tongues Podcast, “the podcast in conversation with multilinguals”. A lifelong New Yorker, language, culture & travel lover, she has studied seven languages to varying degrees and traveled to four continents. She started her podcast in 2020 as a way to connect with other language learners and culture lovers after years of being in awe of her multilingual friends and struggling to become multilingual herself.
When she’s not podcasting, she’s usually found reading or trying to improve her French & Italian.
Cordelia Jensen graduated with a MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2012. Cordelia has three verse novels: Skyscraping (Philomel/Penguin), The Way the Light Bends (Philomel/Penguin) and Every Shiny Thing (Amulet/Abrams), which she co-authored with VCFA classmate Laurie Morrison. Skyscraping was named an American Library Association’s 2016 Best Book for Young Adults, a Los Angeles Public Library Best Book for Teens and a 2016 NCTE Childrens’ Notable Verse Novel. Every Shiny Thing was a South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee and Georgia Book Award Nominee. Cordelia has taught creative writing in a variety of settings, including Bryn Mawr College, Germantown Friends School, The Writing Barn and The Kelly Yang Project. She currently teaches verse novel specific classes for The Highlights Foundation and freelance edits verse novels. She also runs a kids’ literary journal called the Mt. Airy Musers.
