The 39 Clues

With the Harry Potter series now completed, Scholastic, the United States publisher of those wildly successful books by J. K. Rowling, is moving forward with what it hopes will be its follow-up blockbuster series. Scholastic – The 39 Clues – Books – New York Times

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Micki Nevett

Librarian Micki Nevett, one of the wittiest and gentlest and smartest people I’ve ever known, died yesterday, unexpectedly and way too soon.

Micki and I first met on child_lit. Before long we both also became enthusiastic members of adbooks. While both of us worked with elementary-aged children, we enjoyed the energy of the jhunt awards (when the group works with a list of YA books, voting off one a week — Survivor style — till there is a winner), relishing the intellectual fights about books we would probably never give to our own students. Later we met for real at ALA and at the CLNE summer institutes. And then a couple of years ago we were both voted on to this year’s Newbery committee. Since then we’ve often touched base about the hard work of the Committee and were to be roommates next month when we have our final meetings. We’d even been IMing this past Sunday about what invitations to accept, The Golden Compass movie (Micki liked it!), and the daunting amount of rereading we had to do.

Micki was a very wonderful and incredibly special individual who touch many, many lives. It is going to be very hard for those who knew her to go on without her. My thoughts to her family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who knew and will miss her terribly.

There is an obituary in the Albany Times Union where you can post condolences.

A note from Micki’s husband, David Galletly, and her eulogy are here.

Judith Ridge has a moving tribute to Micki here.

Elizabeth Bird at Fuse # 8 mentioned her too.

Please visit the incredibly moving slide show of Micki’s library at Westmere School. Deb Picker writes that it is a:

…display in Micki’s honor that grew up spontaneously. It began with four little bookmarks left (by children) on a ledge that spans the length of the library in the hallway at Westmere Elementary School. The closeups are meant to be read. Don’t miss ” What It’s Like in Heaven ” where Micki becomes a Wild Thing…Photos of the library interior, too, including Micki’s special reading chair.(Photos by Josh Picker). Micki Nevett-Westmere School-Memorial Display and Library.

Deb also has posted the poem read at Micki’s funeral at her blog.