The
Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host
Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19
th-21
st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling.
Free public events on Ball State’s campus will include Varian Johnson’s Monday evening talk on writing for young people and a Wednesday afternoon fiction reading followed by an on-stage interview with Ball State alum—and New York Times bestselling memoirist—
Ashley C. Ford.
Hundreds of students in Muncie schools received free books and will be studying and discussing Varian Johnson’s books in their classrooms and afterschool book clubs, including:
Twins (a graphic novel about twin sisters navigating middle school that “School Library Journal”
calls “a must-read for middle grade comic lovers”),
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt (a novel with a 10-year-old protagonist named Ant that “Publishers Weekly”
says “realistically portrays family, friend, and classroom dynamics alongside lively descriptions of the beloved game of spades”),
The Parker Inheritance (“a compelling mystery and a powerful commentary on identity, passing, and sacrifice” –“Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
,” starred review), and
The Great Greene Heist (“A political heist page-turner set in middle school”).
Wednesday, October 21st
Pizza Party Meet & Greet with Writer Varian Johnson, 5:30 p.m. Ross Community Center Gymnasium (1110 W. 10th Street in Muncie). Free and open to all. Pizza and dessert will be served. Varian Johnson will be available to sign books after the event.
The residency is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English and made possible by the Efroymson Family Fund, the College of Sciences and Humanities, and the Office of the President with generous support from Burris Laboratory School, the Department of Women’s, Gender, and African American Studies, and the Office of Community Engagement at Ball State University, and our many community partners.