Child & Youth Services EXPO

No, it’s not a class with Professor Lupin or Snape. But it IS a workshop about writing dark subjects for kids and teens. How do authors write a book with a disturbing subject and keep your story accessible? Why is it important to share these stories for kids? What is considered taboo? We’ll look at some popular dark stories and discuss why some people bristle at the idea and why they are absolutely necessary.

MELANIE FLORENCE is an award-winning writer of Cree and Scottish heritage based in Toronto. She was close to her grandfather as a child, a relationship that sparked her interest in writing about Aboriginal themes and characters. She is the author of Missing Nimama, which won the 2016 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, the 2017 Forest of Reading Golden Oak Award and was a finalist for the 2017 First Nation Communities READ award. Her most recent picture book, Stolen Words, won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award and was given a starred review by Kirkus, who listed it as one of the best picture books of 2017 to give readers strength. Her other books include Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools and the teen novels He Who Dreams, The Missing, One Night, and Rez Runaway.

In her spare time, Melanie watches Doctor Who and Harry Potter with her daughter, discusses the DC vs Marvel Universes with her son and makes her husband sit through scary movies with her. She shares her home with her family, their two dogs (Henry and Daisy), two cats (Shadow and Oreo) and a backyard that seems to constantly attract wildlife.