News
September 22, 2009
WEST HOLLYWOOD BOOK FEST October 4th!
Come see me and NINE other LAYAs - Los Angeles Young Adult Authors - at the West Hollywood Book Fest on Sunday, October 4. We’ll be presenting our work “readers theatre” style, with teens from across the city performing excerpts from our books. The first group will be from 1-1:45 and the second (with me!) from 2:30-3:15 on the Teen Stage. Oh - and we’ll also have a LAYA booth, with TWO raffles and lotsa fun FREE swag. TEN LAYAS. ONE EVENT. BE THERE, SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!
June 9, 2009
LAYAPALOOZA!!!!!!
I’ll be performing with other LAYAs (Los Angeles Young Adult authors) on Saturday, June 20, 2PM at Vroman’s Books in Pasadena. It’s LAYAPALOOZA - a live game show based on YA lit with games guaranteed to amaze and amuse! And did I mention there will be PIZZA???? Come see us, and grab a slice!
May 27, 2009
PRINTERS ROW BOOK FAIR
I’ll be at the Printers Row Book Fair in Chicago, speaking on a panel of YA authors at 1PM on Sunday, June 7 at the University Center River Room and signing books afterwards. Come and see me if you’re in the city!
April 26, 2009
Northwestern University Alumni Authors
Along with other NU Alumni Authors, I’ll be reading on Saturday, May 16 at the Studio City branch of the LA Public Library at 12511 Moorpark Ave. from 3-5:30, with a signing following the reading.
December 3, 2008
Paperback Release Party!
Come celebrate the release of the paperback of “The Heights, etc.” at MATRUSHKA, 3822 Sunset Bl. in Silverlake, Los Angeles, Saturday December 6th from 7 - 9 PM. Skylight Books will handle sales of the book, and I reserve the right to take photos of anyone and everyone trying on all those cute Matrushka clothes!
November 19, 2008
PAPERBACK! PAPERBACK! PAPERBACK!
The paperback is out and available at bookstores everywhere. If your store doesn’t carry it, ask them to order it for you. And if you want it signed, email me your snail mail address and I’ll send a signed bookplate to adorn your very own personal copy.
April 2, 2008
THE SEQUOYAH BOOK AWARD
BIG NEWS - “The Heights, etc.” has been nominated for the Sequoyah Book Award by the State of Oklahoma Library Association - http://www.oklibs.org/sequoyah/ - which means that it’s on a reading list for all 6th to 8th grade students, who will then nominate their favorite in the spring of 2009. So, if you know any kids in Oklahoma, tell ’em to vote early, and vote often!
March 4, 2007
Praise from Little People of America
“Nemeth tells a compelling story about two kids who want to find friends, want to be loved, and want to be accepted…And she never hints that Jake ever feels sorry for himself because of his dwarfism. Instead, the dwarfism just exists, a part of his life, as he pursues the same goals that every other middle schooler pursues.” Little People of America, LPA TODAY
November 22, 2006
ON THE RADIO
You can hear me read from “The Heights, etc.” and say pithy things about adolescence on the radio anytime, through the magic of archiving. Go to www.wbhm.org - Birmingham, Alabama’s own NPR station - and click on Tapestry, the weekly arts magazine, go to archives, and click on November 23rd, 2006. The interview will be available online for all eternity…or thereabouts.
August 31, 2006
Praise from Librarians
From the LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION - “In the tradition of “Freak the Mighty” and other stories of real but unlikely friendships, Lucy, at 5’10”, has been best friend and soul mate through elementary school to Jake who is a dwarf. The two have learned to deal with the inevitable teasing, but now they’re headed to junior high with a whole new group of kids, and they are not looking forward to being, “the junior high freak show.” Lucy and Jake have other issues as well. Lucy’s dad has taken off, and Jake’s divorced mom is thinking of marrying someone Jake intensely dislikes. The two enter into a friendship with “bad boy” Gary, and, with well-meaning motives but typically disastrous adolescent results, get into a heap of trouble involving the police, a stolen car, and juvenile court. Clearly realized characterizations, a fast moving, suspenseful plot, plenty of humor and snappy dialogue distinguish this well-written novel. Loving family relationships with grandparents and well-drawn secondary characters give the book depth. Lucy’s savvy approach to the horrors of junior high, and her clear-sighted take on human nature should guarantee her a place in the pantheon of appealing adolescent female literary characters. This is a genuine and memorable portrait of friendship.”
August 30, 2006
Praise from Kansas
From the WITCHITA EAGLE - “The Heights, the Depths, and Everything in Between” is a realistic look into junior high school life. The first few days of junior high are bad enough, but imagine being a 5-foot-10 inch girl named Lucy Small whose best friend is a dwarf named Jake Little. Lucy’s family is going through a trial separation. Jake’s parents are divorced and dating others. These two friends need each other so much, but junior high pulls them in diverse directions. Can they continue to help each other through the tough times, or are they becoming completely different people? This is an excellent first novel. Nemeth’s story is engaging with realistic conversation and interesting plot twists. Setting her book in the 1970’s lets her consider the commonalities of adolescence without being caught up in contemporary fads that change so quickly.”
July 24, 2006
more praise
This comes from Christine Fletcher, acclaimed author of TALLULAH FALLS, Bloomsbury publishing. “THE HEIGHTS, THE DEPTHS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN is the pitch-perfect story of a childhood friendship threatened by the pressures of adolescence. The narrator, thirteen-year-old Lucy Small, is engaging, funny, and keenly observant - the kind of character you miss having around, once the final page is turned. From the 1970’s period detail to the dizzying gauntlet of junior high, author Sally Nemeth’s portrayal of two misfits and the tough boy they befriend never hits a wrong note. Heartfelt and honest, this is a book to savor.”
July 11, 2006
BOOK RELEASE DAY!
Today is the day! The book is in the stores, available online everywhere, and all is right with the world. And more PRAISE - this time from Booklist - “Lucy Small is freakishly tall and her best friend and next door neighbor Jake Little is a dwarf. Add to this scenario the start of Jr. High School for both kids, and parent problems (Jake’s mother is dating again, Lucy’s dad has taken off to find himself) and you have plenty of teen angst nicely balanced against life in suburban Delaware 1977. Playwright Nemeth has a real gift for capturing teen dialogue and emotions. Lucy and Jake embody the misfit feelings most teens have during middle school and Nemeth’s secondary characters are richly drawn as well. Parents and grandparents are equally caring and infuriating and bad boy Gary (who appeals to both Lucy and Jake for different reasons) and his wrong-side-of-the-tracks family are wholly believable. There is even an incredible touching dead kitten scene which avoids corniness. Despite the 70’s setting, readers will relate to this satisfying tale of platonic best friends, whose relationship sustains them through difficult times.”
June 17, 2006
Praise
“Nemeth’s look at coming of age (or at least coming of adolescence) is set in those fairly safe, pre-cell phone 1970’s when junior-high students like Lucy and her friend Jake would hang out, roam around town on their own and make friends with kids like troubled Gary Geary from the opposite side of the track. Their small Delaware neighborhood, The Heights, is a comfortable backdrop for all the uncomfortable changes of early adolescence. Lucy is tall, while Jake, her best friend from early childhood, is a dwarf, and the shelter of the known world of elementary school can’t help them now. The transformation of their friendship as they enter junior high is inevitable, and this look at the private lives and real troubles of young teenagers is filled with believable moments and humor…Nemeth’s polished prose and consistently authentic characterization are noteworthy.”
—KIRKUS REVIEW