by Brandy Sensmeier
Solomon school had a special guest visit on Wednesday, January 11th, Clare Vanderpool. Clare Vanderpool is a Kansas native. She was raised in Wichita, where she still resides today. Vanderpool went to Newman University and received her English and Elementary Education degrees. Vanderpool decided she wanted to be a writer in the fifth grade and says her love for reading pushed that goal.
Vanderpool is the Arthur of Navigating Early (2013) and Moon Over Manifest (2010). Navigating Early is about a boy from Kansas who is placed in a boy’s boarding school in Maine after the death of his mother. While at the home, Jack Baker (the boy) meets up with Early Auden and the two set out on an adventure to the Appalachian Trail. Moon Over Manifest is about a little girl named Abilene Tucker. Abilene ends up in Manifest, Kansas, which seems to be a dried-up town, but soon Abilene finds a mysterious box full of treasures and sets out to pick up the pieces. Vanderpool won the Newbery Medal in 2011 for her book Moon Over Manifest. Her book Navigating Early was named a Printz Honor Book in 2014.
Both staff and students enjoyed the presentation as Mrs. Vanderpool talked about her life, passion, and career. Mrs. Sarah Riordan, the Librarian at Solomon, said, “it was a unique experience to have an award-winning author come in person to interact with the students and answer questions about her writing process. We are thankful she was able to visit.” This experience is sure to last in the student’s minds and pushes them to reach for the stars when having life goals.
Courtesy Photos
