Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen

Deborah Hopkinson is the author of Small Places, Close to Home and Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen, among more than fifty acclaimed works for young readers including picture books, middle-grade fiction, and nonfiction that help bring history and research alive. Deborah lives near Portland, Oregon with her family and a menagerie of pets. You can visit her online at www.deborahhopkinson.com.Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and later moved to France, then to Montreal in Canada. She now lives in Toronto with her husband and works as a designer and illustrator. She grew up surrounded by paintings, and her father, an artist himself, was a great influence on her. Qin graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films. Her picture books have been nominated for such prizes as the prestigious Governor General’s Literary Award, and she won the APAAL for Best Picture Book. You can visit her at www.qinleng.tumblr.com.

“A charming account of pride and persistence.” — Publishers Weekly“This is an up-close introduction to Austen…[and] a story of a girl’s empowerment.” — Booklist“Hopkinson’s light, conversational tone and obvious appreciation for her subject combine with Qin’s lively ink-and-watercolor illustrations to create an engaging portrait of this talented writer. A perfectly pitched celebration of an esteemed author.” — Kirkus ReviewsA lively take on a woman who, despite publishing conventions that favored male writers, refused to let her authorial voice remain mute. This manages to successfully introduce Austen’s characteristic wit and social commentary to an audience who would otherwise be too young to digest the original works. A delightful read. — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books