A Reading with Liesl Shurtliff and Brianna DuMont

“Time-traveling pirates, whimsical humor, a sentient ship, and cliffhanger predicaments deliver generous helpings of quirky, retro-tinged entertainment."—Kirkus Reviews (on Time Castaways: The Mona Lisa Key)

"A sassy, historically sound visit with some of the more (mostly) rudely audacious characters who have taken what wasn’t theirs."—Kirkus Reviews (on Thrilling Thieves: Liars, Cheats, and Cons Who Changed History)

Authors Liesl Shurtliff and Brianna DuMont present their new books, Time Castaways: The Mona Lisa Key (Katherine Tegen / HarperCollins) the first book in a historical time-travel adventure trilogy by Liesl Shurtliff, and Thrilling Thieves: Liars, Cheats, and Cons Who Changed History (Sky Pony Press) the third book in Brianna DuMont's Changed History non-fiction series. Brianna and Liesl will share their writing process, how they research, source, and fact check, and how young readers (castaways, sleuths, etc.) can use these skills in their own schoolwork and everyday lives, as well as how to take real history and weave it with fiction while still keeping important facts intact.

At 57th Street Books

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About Time Castaways: From the New York Times bestselling author of Rump comes a thrilling new middle grade trilogy about three city kids who get on the wrong subway train and wind up on a wild, magical mystery-adventure throughout time. Imaginative, daring, and packed with fun, Time Castaways is perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Percy Jackson.

About Liesl Shurtliff: Liesl Shurtliff grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and just as Snow White had seven dwarves, Liesl had seven siblings to keep her company! Before she became a writer, Liesl graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in music, dance, and theater. Her first three books, Rump, Jack, and Red are all New York Times bestsellers, and Rump was named to over two dozen state award lists and won an ILA Children’s Book Award. She lives in Chicago with her family, where she continues to spin fairy tales. Visit her at www.lieslshurtliff.com

About Thrilling Thieves: Caution: don’t look for the good guys in here. What do Mother Theresa, Honest Abe, and Mahatma Gandhi have in common? They’re all too good for this book, that’s what. Sure, you’ll find some familiar faces like Queen Elizabeth I and Thomas Edison in here, but you’ll learn that behind their angelic smiles were cunning con artists who stole their way to gold and greatness. Follow the trail of twelve troublemakers to learn what really made the Mona Lisa the most iconic painting in the world, meet the most powerful pirate from history (it’s probably not who you’re expecting), and watch empires rise and fall with the theft of a simple tea plant. Turns out our world owes a lot to those who dabble on the dark side. If you’re not scared of crooks and criminals, take a peek at this new side of history . . .

About Brianna DuMont: Brianna DuMont rewrites history for middle graders in her humorous Changed History series. Her award-winning series has been featured in the Scholastic Book Club and honored by the Junior Library Guild Selection Committee. In 2017, she teamed up with National Geographic Kids to write the latest Weird but True Know-it-All: U.S. Presidents. Brianna loves connecting with her readers of all ages! Please contact her on her website: www.briannadumont.com