Reading Ambassadors Present Melissa Marr

Worlds of Words combined Reading Ambassadors invite you to meet Melissa Marr, author of The Strange Case of Harleen & Harley!

Harleen Quinzel is many things, a gymnast, anxious, broke…but the last thing anyone would call her is evil. Harley Quinn on the other hand…

When Harleen signs up to participate in a clinical research trial with her girlfriend, Pamela, the most she can hope for is extra cash in her wallet and a chance to get her anxiety under control. But what she gets instead are increasingly larger gaps in her memory and stolen mementos from some guy named Jack she’s never met. Soon, Harleen discovers she’s sharing her life with Harley—a take-no-prisoners, who-cares-about attendance, maybe-we-oughtta-save-the-bunnies kind of girl. She is the opposite of Harleen in many ways. She is anarchy in a cute dress. And in this Jekyll and Hyde story, Harleen discovers that maybe evil ain’t so bad—as long as she doesn’t get caught.

The program includes a group discussion with the author and personal interactions.

Melissa Marr is a fiction author who writes across genres and demographics. She has written over 70 books including the middle grade novel The Hidden Knife and the young adult series Wicked Lovely. Her most recent releases are the picturebook Family is Family, novels Remedial Magic and Reluctant Witch. Her upcoming release is Toni and Addie Go Viral. Find more information on her website.

Attendees are welcome to stay after the event for the Reading Ambassadors’ end-of-year celebration and certificate ceremony.

Free parking is available in the Second St. Garage and at the surface parking lot north of the intersection of First and Vine. Worlds of Words Center is also located just off of the 2nd St. Modern Streetcar stop.

To request disability-related accommodations that would ensure your full participation in this event, please email wow@arizona.edu or call 520.621.9340.

Reading Ambassador author meetings occur every other month throughout the academic year and are open to the public. This free program for area middle and high school students encourages them to promote reading in their own contexts. Additional information on the Reading Ambassadors is available on our website under the About tab.

Event details may change. More information to follow.

WOW Center Launches Reading-Focused Podcast Centering Youth Voices

The Worlds of Words Center at the University of Arizona College of Education launched a new podcast called “WOW Reads” that centers the voices of teens and pre-teens around literature for young people. The podcast, which currently has four episodes of about 15 minutes each and a bonus episode, features WOW Center Reading Ambassadors discussing books after having met the authors of those books.

Continue reading →

WOW Middle School Reading Ambassadors Present Melissa Marr

Melissa Marr at a picnic spot in the Sonoran Desert

Photo by Sara Jo Tiberio

WOW Middle School Reading Ambassadors invite you to meet Melissa Marr.

This conversation focuses on The Hidden Knife. From Nancy Paulsen Books, “Vicky has grown up under the watchful eye of a gargoyle named Rupert, and excels at sword-fighting and magic. But there’s so much she doesn’t know–like why her mother, once one of the queen’s elite Ravens, keeps Vicky hidden away and won’t let Vicky train at the elite Corvus school where girls with her gifts perfect their skills. But when a horrific tragedy occurs, Vicky knows it’s finally time to use her gifts, and that the only place she should be to avenge the crime against her family is at Corvus. There she bands together with a former street thief and an alchemy student to figure out whom they can trust in a place that’s rife with intrigue and secrets.”

A boy and girl with swords stand back to back with water horses behind them and a spired castle looms in the background The program includes a brief presentation, a question and answer period and time for snacks and personal interactions with the author. The workshop also includes one free hour of professional development, so invite your favorite teacher.

Books will be for sale at the conclusion of the meeting with time for signing.

Free parking is available at the surface parking lot north of the intersection of First and Vine. Sometimes free parking is available at the Second St. Garage next door to the College of Education. The WOW Center is also located just off of the 2nd St. Modern Streetcar stop.

To request disability-related accommodations that would ensure your full participation in this event, please email wow@arizona.edu or call 520.621.9340.

Middle School Reading Ambassador author meetings occur every other month throughout the academic year and are open to the public. This free program for area middle school students encourages them to promote reading in their own contexts. Additional information on the Teen Reading Ambassadors is available on our website.

Event details may change. More information to follow.