Author Spotlight: Jess Redman

 

At Once Upon a Book Club, we love bringing stories to life, and when it comes to creating exciting and enchanting worlds for tweens, Jess Redman is one of our favorites. Jess has captivated readers all around the world with her award-winning tween novels. Perhaps it's due to her background as a therapist combined with her innate ability to write heartfelt stories that make her so popular.

We loved her last book, The Adventure is Now, so much that we featured it in our August 2023 Middle Grade box, “The Brave Explorer!” This book box was packed with excitement and included our famous surprise gifts (these are guaranteed to excite every ardent adventurer and set them off on their journey of discovery), activities, and a signed bookplate from the author! We are lucky to have some in stock, ready-to-ship, so why not order one today and let your tween start their adventure tomorrow?

 

 

It Started With a Poem!

The above poem was written by Jess when she was 6 years old! Her poem was published in a local anthology and Jess says that after reading her printed words in a real book, she knew then that she wanted to be an author when she grew up.

We don’t think we could say it any better than her official bio does: “She spent the next couple of decades doing things like surviving middle school, traveling around the world, becoming a therapist, and having two kids. She wrote the whole time.

Then, one day, she realized that she was probably an official grown-up and that it was time to try to get some more of her words printed in real books.”

We think what makes Jess special is that she is truly invested in inspiring a love for reading and writing in young readers and you can often find her visiting schools. She lives in Florida with her husband, two young children, and an old cat named SoulPie.

Jess Redman’s Books

Her debut novel, The Miraculous, received acclaim as a Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2019 and an Amazon Best Book of 2019, earning a starred review from Kirkus for being "layered, engaging, and emotionally true." 

Following this success, Jess wrote Quintessence, which was honored as an NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor Book and described by Publishers Weekly as “a fanciful adventure with a rich emotional core and a fairy tale flair.” 

Her most recent novel, The Adventure is Now, was celebrated as an Amazon Editor's Pick and a Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2021, hailed as "a Roald-Dahl-esque delight" by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.

 

The Miraculous

The story follows eleven-year-old Wunder Ellis, a self-proclaimed miracologist who records tales of the extraordinary in his journal, The Miraculous. But after the tragic death of his newborn sister, Wunder loses his faith in miracles and gets rid of his journal.

Everything changes when he meets Faye, an outspoken girl with her own losses. Together, they discover an abandoned house and a mysterious old woman who may be a witch. The old woman asks for their help and urges them to believe again. Their journey leads to friendship, adventure, healing, and ultimately, miracles.

This is a sparkling tale about facing grief, trusting the unknown, and finding light in the darkest moments.

Quintessence

Find the Elements. Grow the Light. Save the Starling.

Twelve-year-old Alma, new to the town of Four Points, has been struggling with panic attacks since she arrived. Homesick and friendless, she feels lost. But everything changes when she discovers a telescope in a junk shop and sees a star, resembling a child, fall into her backyard. 

Feeling a connection with the lost star, Alma knows it's up to her to save it. With the help of new friends from the Astronomy Club, she embarks on a quest combining science, magic, and her entire being.

Quintessence is a captivating story about finding yourself, the power of friendship, and the magic of the world.

 

The Adventure is Now

This can only be described as a fun-filled, action-packed novel about a boy who learns about protecting the environment, finding real friends, and living in the now while spending the summer on a remote island.

About the book

Sometimes, it's hard to be Milton P. Greene. He says all the wrong things, his family is falling apart, and everyone at school avoids him because of the very embarrassing Bird Brain Incident. But when Milton plays his video game, Isle of Wild, he becomes someone else―Sea Hawk, the brave and brilliant naturalist explorer who conquers danger at every turn.

Then Milton’s parents ship him off to the remote Lone Island for the summer, where his uncle Evan is an environmentalist researcher. The island is chock-full of spectacular species, and Milton realizes this is his chance to become the brave and brilliant naturalist he’s always wanted to be―and even meet some fellow explorers!

But as it turns out, the future of Lone Island is in some serious peril, and the only thing that can save it is a field guide full of cryptic clues. If Milton and his unexpected new friends are going to protect the island, they’ll have to trust each other, discover new truths, and embark on a wild and wondrous adventure.

Conclusion

We love celebrating authors like Jess Redman, who share our passion for storytelling and creating unforgettable reading experiences. As you know, our book boxes are packed with excitement and give your tween the ultimate interactive and immersive reading experience.

Subscribe now and give your tween the gift that keeps on giving! It’s like having a birthday every time that box arrives. Our team scours the world for our famous surprise gifts that bring each book to life! Check out our blog, A New Chapter: Welcoming the Once Upon a Book Club Tween Box, to learn more about our popular and exciting tween book boxes!