Beach Lane Books
Simon & Schuster ISBN: 978-1665988438 |
STIFLEDComing Sept. 1, 2026: When Madge starts middle school, she's not surprised to get into Jazz Notes--she was the best trombonist in fifth grade! But soon family secrets, friendship growing pains, and the stress of playing in the competitive jazz band wear her down. Worse, her best friend Amelia is fighting against book censorship at the school library, and Madge isn't sure where she fits in. She has to find a way back to the sound of her own horn and heart.
Awards & Honors
Junior Library Guild selection, 2026 Praise
"Gennari realistically and sensitively explores tough topics including censorship and grief... Madge is occasionally overprotective toward Amelia in a way that’s well-intentioned but stifling, and readers will appreciate both Amelia’s growth and Madge’s gradual awareness of her own behavior. Poignant and insightful. —Kirkus Reviews "Stifled by Jennifer Gennari is a thought-provoking story of shifting friendships, loss, intergenerational love, and boldly finding yourself. Readers will root for Madge as she shares her voice, her heart, and music to stand up for what she truly believes in." —Elly Swartz, author of Same Page "This timely and honest novel hits all the right notes. Madge’s struggle with self-doubt and changing friendships will strongly resonate with readers. Gennari beautifully weaves together so many chords to show the highs and lows of transitioning to middle school." —Lisa Moore Ramée, author of A Good Kind of Trouble |
Beach Lane Books
Simon & Schuster ISBN 978-1534463653 |
MuffledAmelia does not like noise. In fifth grade, she has to learn to play an instrument or, as she sees it, make noise on purpose. To help Amelia manage, her father gives her a pair of earmuffs to wear. With the help of an unlikely friend she makes in trombone class, Amelia learns to cope with her sound sensitivity and to step outside of her comfort zone.
Praise
"[Author] Gennari effectively works Amelia’s experience onto nearly every page, making each of her hard-won victories resonate powerfully." — Publishers Weekly "Middle grade GOLD. I inhaled this story in one sitting and ached the entire time for highly sensitive 5th grader Amelia and the world’s inability to try to understand her needs." — Kate Olson, Library Director, School District of La Crosse, WI “A sweet book that packs a quiet punch. Readers will feel for quiet Amelia as she fights to find her place in a noisy world.” — Gennifer Choldenko, Newbery-Honor winning author of Al Capone Does My Shirts and Orphan Eleven
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Houghton Mifflin Books
for Children ISBN: 978-0547577395 |
My mixed-up berry blue summerTwelve-year-old June is sure of one thing—she’s great at making pies and she plans to prove it by winning a blue ribbon in the Champlain Valley Fair pie competition. But one summer in Vermont, when her mom decides to marry her partner, June needs not only the best wild blueberries but also a slice of courage.
Awards & Honors
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year 2013 2013 Rainbow List selection by the American Library Association 2012 New Voices selection by the Association of Booksellers for Children Praise
"This strong, vibrant novel looks at a complicated issue without didacticism or platitudes, but with the level of complexity it deserves, staying true to the heart of the protagonist." — School Library Journal "A realistic account of a family coming together under stress." — Publishers Weekly "This title is a much-needed addition to the world of LGBT literature for young readers, given the relative scarcity of pre-YA novels about kids dealing with gay parents." — Bulletin “My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer is like its protagonist, full to bursting with sweetness and summer light. . .When things begin to look bleak and scary, you just know June has the grit and sunshine to pull through." — Tim Wynne-Jones, award-winning author |
Selected poetry
“Schoolgirl Doing Homework,”
oil on canvas Albert Anker, 1879 |
Not Homework
I want to be president she says unprompted. Her unfinished writing task lies on the table between us. How many bedrooms are in the White House? Read the full poem on The Lascaux Review (2018). |