Jennifer Longo's Blog

It was honor to be invited to write an essay for the Spokesman Review’s Summer Stories Series 2025. This is an annual series the paper produces with Washington State authors, and this year’s theme was ‘Winds of Change’. The editor said we could write anything involving wind and politics, and this story spilled so fast from my heart to the page. The novel I’m currently writing involves many of the same ideas, the anger and sadness, and ultimately - maybe - some hope. Thank you so much, Spokesman...

Hello at long last from the cave of writing! I am in the midst of writing two novels that I am in love with, in between completing a Library Sciences certificate program at Spokane Falls Community College and working in my local school libraries and volunteering with Friends of the Library, which is all to say - God, I love books. I am so happy to have the honor of participating in some wonderful book and writing events this year, and hope you are all well, happy, and are able to spend some...

Snooping the inter webs I recently discovered that WHAT I CARRY is a MICHIGAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Top Ten YA Book for 2021! The Thumbs Up Award is curated and voted by librarians, the very best people I know, so to be a Top Ten Finalist is amazing! What an honor and a lovely surprise. I love you, you beautiful students, readers, teachers and librarians of the glorious Michigan Library Association. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Rhode Island! You are beautiful and I love you so much, thank you for the honor of this nomiation for WHAT I CARRY for the 2023 RITBA. I am humbled to in the company of so many authors and books I admire. Thank you to the RILA, readers, librarians, and teachers of Rhode Island. I would love to come visit you in person next year ;) Here is information about this wonderful award from the RITBA website:

“The Rhode Island Teen Book Award is a collaborative project of the School Librarians of Rhode ...

What an honor for WHAT I CARRY to be part of this wonderful program. Thank you so, so much to the Oregon Association of Libraries, and best of luck to all the books and authors. Read on, Oregonians!

“OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS (OBOB) is a statewide voluntary reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Libraries in conjunction with a Library Services and Technology Act grant.  Students in 3rd-12th grade, regardless of ability, are exposed to quality...

I am overjoyed to announce WHAT I CARRY is a finalist for Washington State’s EVERGREEN AWARD! Young Adult Librarians in our beautiful PNW State determine a list of their favorite YA books, then teen readers vote all year for a winner. This is an honor I am especially grateful for, as this is my beloved home state and also look at all those incredible books and authors! This is truly humbling. Read them all and thank me later. And thank you so much to the Evergreen Award librarians, readers, and ...

After a lifetime of wishing I could be public library librarian but being too scared to try, I am so proud to say just graduated with a Library Science certificate from Spokanne Falls Community College! I cannot wait to (hopefully!) find a Library Assistant position one day soon, so I can write on a regular schedule, and then have days that I spend with my heroes, the librarians, helping commuity members find books they love, and a million other wonderful srervices libraries offer. I truly belie...

So grateful to say WHAT I CARRY has been nominated for the 2023 Connecticut Library Association’s NUTMEG BOOK AWARD for Young Adult titles! I am honored to be considered in a final ten list of authors I truly admire - which I know I always say, but that’s becuase it’s true! Thank you so much too, to the Connecticut Association of Librarians. Happy voting, and happy Spring!

“The Nutmeg Book Award encourages children in grades 2-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a lis...

I am proud that WHAT I CARRY is nominated for the 2022-23 GATEWAY READERS AWARD. This wonderful recognition means something special to me, as my mother’s family are all from the Ozark Mountains in the Show Me State of Missouri. These are Librarian-curated awards, voted by readers and librarians, and that makes the nomination even more wonderful. From the Missouri Association of Librarians website:

“The librarians of Missouri believe that exposing students to quality literature impacts their fut...

I am overjoyed to say WHAT I CARRY has been named a TAYSHAS Top Ten Title for 2022! This list, chosen annually by the Texas Library Association, is developed by public and school librarians in Texas to motivate young adults in grades 9-12 to explore a variety of current books. Top Ten Titles are voted unanimously by the pannel in the first round, which is bananas becuase look at the amazing books in the top ten - I am so overwhlemed and grateful to be included with authors I admire so much. Th...