WOW Middle School Reading Ambassadors Present Lisa McMann

Woman with short blond hair

Photo: © Ryan Nicholson

WOW Middle School Reading Ambassadors invite you to a book event for Clarice the Brave with the author, Lisa McMann, and a special guest, Matt McMann!

Meet Lisa McMann, author of Clarice the Brave. From Penguin Random House, “Clarice is a young ship mouse grieving the loss of her mother when a mutiny forces her onto a small, leaky boat with a dangerous cat. Worse, she is separated from her younger brother, Charles Sebastian, who is trapped aboard the great ship. Clarice and Charles Sebastian were taught to always be careful—but they will need to grow bold if they are to survive…and find one another again.”

A mouse on shore looks off at a wooden ship with sailsThe program includes a group discussion with the author and personal interactions. Stick around afterwards to meet Matt McMann, author of the Monsterious series.

Lisa McMann is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of dozens of books, including The Unwanteds series and the Wake trilogy. She is married to fellow writer Matt McMann, and they have two adult children. Her son is artist Kilian McMann, and her daughter is actor Kennedy McMann. Lisa spends most of her time in Arizona, California and Vancouver, BC. She loves to cook, read and watch reality TV.


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.

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.

Book Launch: The Broke Hearts by Matt Mendez

man in stylized hoodieWOW Teen Reading Ambassadors with partners Pine Reads Review invite you to a book launch for The Broke Hearts, a new book from Matt Mendez!

Meet Matt Mendez, author of the forthcoming The Broke Hearts. From Simon & Schuster, “A year after losing their best friend, JD and Danny are still brokenhearted. JD’s impetuous decision to join the Air Force only makes him yearn for ‘before’ more than ever. Danny, who’d rather paint murals than open a book and certainly never thought of himself as college material, makes the equally impulsive choice to do what Juan will never be able to and enrolls in a community college. When Danny is on the verge of flunking out and JD gets notified of imminent deployment, the two are forced to confront their shared grief that led them to these paths.”

A coyote creeps down the page, his tail poking out through the titleThe program includes a group discussion with the author and personal interactions.

UArizona BookStores will be in the WOW Center selling copies of The Broke Hearts. A list of retailers for preorders of The Broke Hearts is listed on the Simon & Schuster website.

Matt Mendez is the award-winning author of Barely Missing Everything, his debut novel, and the short story collection Twitching Heart. Like many of his characters, Matt grew up in El Paso, Texas and continues to love and live in the Southwest. He is a military veteran and earned his MFA from the University of Arizona where he has taught creative writing. Matt is the father of two daughters that he loves fiercely. His new novel, The Broke Hearts, is set for release on October 3, 2023.


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.

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.