Press release from Fair Haven School District 

On March 27, award-winning Young Adult fiction author Jordan Sonnenblick visited Knollwood School, and made presentations to students in sixth through eighth grades.

Sonnenblick is well-known for exploring the complicated themes of friendship, family, and real- life tragedy while still managing to be hilariously funny. His books convey a genuine understanding of life as a teenager. Titles include Zen and the Art of Faking It, Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip, Are You Experienced? and Falling Over Sideways.

After Ever After, the sequel to Sonnenblick’s Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie, was the 2011 Middle Grades winner of the American Library Association’s Children’s Literature Award.

In advance of Sonnenblick’s arrival, Knollwood School Library Media Specialist Patrice Horan gave each of the students in sixth through eighth grade the opportunity to create an “application” detailing why they would like to have lunch with him. Ten students were chosen, and joined Sonnenblick for lunch.

Sonnenblick’s visit was organized by Patrice Horan and by Kathy Elgrim, Supervisor of Instructional Programs and Support. The Fair Haven PTA and the Board of Education funded the special event.

“Jordan Sonnenblick’s personal story of overcoming challenges left an enormous impression on all of our students,” said Knollwood School Principal Amy Romano. “The students were so engaged by his presentation that you could hear a pin drop.